Few teams made as great a use of their resources as the New Orleans Saints have in recent years, and much of that credit goes to Khai Harley. His official position within the organization is listed as the vice president of football administration, but Harley’s day-to-day responsibilities have centered on managing the salary cap so they can field a competitive roster. He’s been a key part of their behind-the-scenes work, staying out of the limelight to such an extent that the combined photo galleries of the USA Today Network, Getty Images, and the Associated Press don’t have a clear shot of him.
Many teams use the cap as an excuse to field subpar teams and save dollars for cheap ownership groups, but Harley has spearheaded New Orleans’ efforts to work around the cap and get the most bang for their buck. Few people around the league know the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement better. It’s largely because of him that the Saints were able to be active in free agency and keep a talented core together for so many years, winning the second-most games (62) over the last six seasons.
