Report: NFL salary cap rising to as much as $305.7M in 2026

NFL teams were informed on Friday that the 2026 salary cap is projected to increase from 2025’s record ceiling to between $301.2 million and $305.7 million, NFL Network reported.

This season, clubs each had a limit of $279.2 million, a $23.8 million increase from 2024. The projected number for next season is a boost of more than $20 million and almost $100 million more than the cap of $208.2 million in 2022, when it first crossed the $200 million barrier.

The league’s rise in prosperity and popularity has been reflected in TV rights deals with its broadcast partners and impacted the annual salary cap, which was $120.37 million in 2011.

The cap has risen yearly since 2011, except for 2021 when the league prioritized recovery from the pandemic, including loss of live attendance gate and concessions profits.

–Field Level Media

Feb 8, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; An NFL official Wilson Duke football with the Super Bowl LVI logo is seen at SoFi Stadium.   Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL sets 2022 salary cap north of $208 million

The NFL salary cap will increase by more than 14 percent next season, according to a report from ESPN.

The league’s salary cap for 2022 will be set at $208.2 million, considerably higher than last season’s figure of $182.5 million. The 2021 salary cap was lower than the previous year’s cap of $198.2 million because of lost revenue amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to announcing a higher salary cap, the NFL set franchise-tag salaries by position:

Quarterbacks: $29.703 million
Running backs: $9.57 million
Wide receivers: $18.419 million
Tight ends: $10.931 million
Offensive linemen: $16.662 million
Defensive ends: $17.859 million
Defensive tackles: $17.396 million
Linebackers: $18.702 million
Cornerbacks: $17.287 million
Safeties: $12.911 million
Kickers and punters: $5.22 million

Teams have until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday to assign franchise tags to players.

–Field Level Media