[MoneyBawl]

My argument would be:

Ok. Let's say you can't sign the guy for 10M.

Fine. (Worst "feature" I've seen in a lonnnnnnnng time but....fine.)

Let's say (for argument) you can't sign anyone.

Offer everyone the slot. They all refuse.

Shouldn't you get that 8.24M sent back to your "available money" (for trades, FA, etc.) after they refuse?
You didn't spend it.
Why are you punished with dead money ?

I could be wrong but I don't think IRL teams are forced to give the league 15M for nothing if they only spent 5M on the draft but "budgeted" 20M aside for it.