After every season there are many questions. Every team has them, some just have more. We've been debating for the last few weeks what how to fix our defense. Yet all of it ties into how much cap room we have available. I will state up front I am no where near an expert at evaluating cap space. But what I can do is layout the information I know.

As of this morning we will be hearing a bit more across the leave with signing and franchise tags. The Patriots wasted no time in franchising Matt Cassel and word is that Albert Haynesworth is being recruited by several teams at the pro-bowl. With only a few weeks left to decide how to us our franchise tag on Jordan Gross or Julius Peppers, crunch time is upon us.

Here's what I found about the contracts for the upcoming season. Let's start off with the players making over 1 million for 2009 (I don't believe these number include any bonuses, if applicable).

Out of the top five two are really easy. Steve Smith is worth his pay--enough said, and Chris Gamble signed a new contract so he's set.

Now, we all know Ken Lucas could be on his way out because of his $9.1 million cap hit. Richard Marshall awaits in his shadow, but CJ Wilson the next in line but is an Exclusive Rights Free Agent, however, he will probably be retained. I suspect that if Lucas wants to be a Panther next season he will have to sign a new contract or run the risk of being cut.

Jake Delhomme won't be cut, so with that in mind I'm not sure what's the best way to handle his situation. On one hand, if he doesn't sign a new contract this would be his last year with the team. If he does sign a new contract to lower this years cap hit, does that mean we are not going to look for a new QB this year to replace him. Due to cap space, it seem that they almost have to offer a new contract; if he would sign it is another question.

All three of the QB on the roster are in their last year of their contract, Josh McCown is making decent money at $1,750,000 next year. If Delhomme is not signed to an extension McCown may receive one. Of course this would mean they view McCown as the possible successor. They only problem I see, beside wondering if he can do the job, is that he will turn 30 in July. How many more years does he have left. Since Delhomme will be here at least one more year he would be 31 before he would get a chance to start.

Then we have Matt Moore, he will be 25 in early August and third year pro. I don't know if another team would want him, but he becomes a RFA after 2009 and may want to see if he can move up in the depth chart. His 2009 salary is around $460,000. While Peppers has been the hot topic lately, the next two years will prove quite crucial regarding our QB situation.

Being thin on the defensive line means that Maake Kemoeatu is pretty safe. While his salary is right under 4 million, it won't be enough to cut him. With only two years left however, one possiblity would be to extend his contract and lower this years cap, yet at age 30, would we want to sign him past the age of 32.

The other two names that have question marks are Landon Johnson and D.J. Hackett. Johnson has two years left, and while initially we had high expectations, he ultimately became a backup. He's the highest paid LB on our team and his 2 million salary rises to $2,595,000 in 2010. He have a good LB group. If he wants to stay he needs to work a new contract. But that is unlikely and he would probably start someone else. If I was in his shoes I wouldn't sign a new contract but asked to be traded or released.

Hackett was another disappointment. I don't have numbers on Muhsin Muhammad's contract, so from the numbers I have Hackett is the 2nd highest paid WR on the Panthers. Being he slipped down to the fourth string late in the season doesn't speak well for his changes to return next year.

The million dollar club raises a lot of question for the Panthers. Needless to say there will be changes.

-------

Here are the rest of the contracts I found information on.

And the ones where terms were not disclosed:

And finally those that have no contacts: