Texian
Hall of Fame
I think we're on the same page except I do not presume any unguaranteed money will be paid. It may be likely, but if AJ retires, it won't get paid like the signing bonus which has already been paid though not yet fully accounted for in the cap. Thus I see benefit in converting ANY unguaranteed money to Guaranteed money, even if it is the same or less. You know, the bird in the hand...
If AJ retires he forfeits all future salaries. The Texans are still accountable for $11 mil + in money they restructured w/ AJ in previous seasons (dead money). If AJ is on the 53 man roster Day 1 of regular season, at that point, his 2014 salary does become fully GTD. My hypothetical, post #1367, explains in detail the workings of a restructured contract and how it only rearranges how the money is paid.
This is the way it actually works, AJ's 2015 salary cap allocation is $16,144,583 and his 2016 salary cap allocation is $14,675,000, before any restructuring in 2014. Let's say AJ restructured $7 million of his 2014 salary and the Texans write AJ a check for $7 million at the time they restructure converting that part of salary to a signing bonus. AJ's NEW 2015 salary cap allocation would be $19,644,583 and his NEW 2016 salary cap allocation would become $18,175,000 to account for the new $7 million signing bonus. AJ's weekly game checks would change from $10 million divided by 17 weeks to $3 million divided by 17 weeks to reflect the $7 million signing bonus.