Tag: salary cap

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks at plays with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, center, and head coach Andy Reid against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Reports: Chiefs clear $49.4M with Mahomes, Jones restructures

Posted on | by Field Level Media

In a race to become compliant with the 2025 salary cap before 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the Chiefs restructured their largest contracts and cleared more than $49 million, according to multiple reports.

The Chiefs had largely already spent that money but deals are not official until the start of the league year on Wednesday afternoon.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes revised his deal for the fourth time since 2021. His contract value of $450 million is tops in the NFL and the deal runs through the 2031 season. The 29-year-old shifted approximately $23 million of his salary, which would fit almost precisely with the franchise tag value for retaining guard Trey Smith.

Mahomes has base salaries in 2026 ($45.4 million) and 2027 ($45.8 million) that are 4.5 times higher than his $9.8 million salary last season.

Defensive tackle Chris Jones signed a five-year, $158.8 million contract in 2024 and has a restructure bonus of $27.5 million on the books for 2025.

In addition to using the franchise tag to retain top free agent Smith, the Chiefs agreed to deals with free agent offensive tackle Jaylon Moore (49ers), cornerback Kristian Fulton (Chargers) and running back Elijah Mitchell (49ers) and re-signed linebacker Nick Bolton and wide receiver Hollywood Brown.

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Grady Jarrett (97) celebrates after a sack against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Reports: Falcons to release DT Grady Jarrett, saving $16.25M

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett will be released by the Atlanta Falcons in a cap-related move, his agent confirmed to multiple outlets.

The Falcons would save up to $16.25 million in salary cap space by parting with Jarrett, a centerpiece of the Atlanta defense since he was drafted by the team in the fifth round of the 2015 draft.

Jarrett will turn 32 on the weekend of the 2025 NFL Draft and played in all 17 games in 2024 after missing the final nine games of the 2023 season due to a torn ACL.

General manager Terry Fontenot said at the NFL Scouting Combine last month that Jarrett wasn’t “untouchable” but also indicated the door would be open for his return if the Falcons released him. Fontenot was the team’s GM in 2022 when the Falcons signed him to a contract extension through 2026.

Jarrett started 137 regular-season games — and five playoff games — with Atlanta and recorded 496 tackles, 77 tackles for loss, 36.5 sacks, forced five fumbles and recovered three. He played in a total of 157 games, including postseason.

–Field Level Media

Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller (40) against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Bills part ways with former All-Pro Von Miller

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Buffalo Bills released three-time All-Pro pass rusher Von Miller on Sunday.

The move clears $8.4 million in salary cap space for the Bills, who reportedly are open to bringing back Miller for the upcoming season.

Miller, who turns 36 on March 26, signed a six-year, $120 million contract prior to the 2022 season. He restructured his contract last season, absorbing a pay cut to save the Bills $8.6 million in cap space.

While with Buffalo, Miller sustained a significant ACL injury in the Thanksgiving 2022 game against the Detroit Lions and was suspended four games due to violating for the NFL’s personal conduct policy last season.

An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl 50 MVP, Miller has recorded 129.5 sacks and 581 tackles in 186 career games (161 starts) with the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams and Bills. He was selected second overall by the Broncos in the 2011 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) runs from Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (98) during the first half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Reports: Browns restructure Deshaun Watson’s contract, clear cap space

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Amid a salary cap crunch, the Cleveland Browns have renegotiated quarterback Deshaun Watson’s salary, clearing nearly $36 million of cap space, multiple outlets reported Thursday.

With free agency opening next week, the Browns needed to clear $23 million in cap space to become cap compliant. And that made Watson’s $72.7 million cap hit in 2025 a target.

Spotrac reported the Browns converted $44.745 million of his salary into a restructure bonus, leaving Watson with a base salary of $1.255 million. The 2027 season also was voided.

The Browns acquired Watson and a sixth-round draft pick on March 18, 2022, in a trade with the Texans, sending three first-round draft picks, a third-round pick and two four-round picks to Houston.

The team completed the trade despite Watson being investigated in Houston after about two dozen massage therapists accused him of sexual misconduct. He signed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract with the Browns.

Watson, 29, was a three-time Pro Bowl selection with Houston, but a bust in Cleveland.

Because of an NFL suspension following the investigation and assorted injuries, Watson has played in just 19 games (of 51 possible) in three seasons in Cleveland and is 9-10 as a starter. He is expected to miss the 2025 season as he recovers from a second surgery for a torn Achilles.

With the Browns, Watson has completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 3,365 yards with 19 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Feb 2, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; A general overall view as NFC quarterback Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions (16) throws the ball on the NFL shield logo at midfield under pressure from AFC safety Derwin James of the Los Angeles Chargers (3) during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

NFL sets 2025 salary cap at $279.2M, a $23.8M jump

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NFL teams were informed on Thursday that the 2025 salary cap will be a record $279.2 million per club, a $23.8 million increase from last season.

The NFL and the players association agreed to the number that the 32 teams must be under when the new league year begins on March 12 at 4 p.m. ET.

It had been previously reported that this year’s cap would be somewhere between $277.5 and $281.5 million.

The biggest factors contributing to the cap’s climb are the league’s most recent TV rights deals with its broadcast partners.

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

In 2011, the cap was $120.37 million. It crossed the $200 million barrier in 2022 at $208.2 million and was at $255.4 million last season.

–Field Level Media

October 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys G Zack Martin adjusts contract for cap relief

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Seven-time All-Pro guard Zack Martin restructured his contract with the Dallas Cowboys to provide the franchise roughly $13 million under the 2024 salary cap, according to multiple reports.

Martin received an amended contract prior to the 2023 season that included $36 million guaranteed and made him third in the NFL in annual salary at his position. Martin’s contract is scheduled to expire after the upcoming season, but his new deal includes three voidable years to allow for spreading out a dead-money charge over multiple seasons, ESPN reported Friday.

Martin turns 34 in November, and the Cowboys expect changes on the offensive line with left tackle Tyron Smith likely to move on after spending 10 seasons on the same front five as Martin, a first-round pick in 2014.

Smith was drafted in the first round in 2011 and has played only for the Cowboys during his NFL career.

–Field Level Media

Dec 21, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; The NFL shield lgo on the field at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL salary cap rises to record $255.4M

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The 2024 salary cap surged to a record $255.4 million per team, up more than $30 million from last season.

The NFL made the massive increase official on Friday and announced each club will have $74 million for player benefits, which includes both money for performance incentives and benefits for retirees to raise the total player personnel spending to $329.4 million per team.

Teams had a salary cap of $224.8 million in 2023 and projections of a cap limit around $240 million were off by more than 50 percent. The increase in spending is due to new media deals as well as a finalizing of the books to remove advances and deferrals necessitated by the pandemic from the league ledger.

With the new cap set, only six teams were over the salary cap for 2024 as of Friday. That includes the New Orleans Saints, who have a league-high $321 million on the books for player contracts in 2024.

The Washington Commanders have nearly $100 million and a league-high cash surplus factoring in the $30 million increase for the 2024 cap.

Teams had been operating under the estimation that they would see a salary cap increase of around $14 million.

Clubs have until the start of the new league year — March 13 at 4 p.m. — to get under the salary cap.

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

In 2011, the cap was $120.37 million. It crossed the $200 million barrier in 2022 at $208.2 million.

The NFL also released what clubs must pay players should the teams use the franchise tag or the transition tag, per position.

Franchise tag:
Quarterback: $38.3 million
Running back: $11.9 million
Wide receiver: $21.8 million
Tight end: $12.7 million
Offensive lineman: $21 million
Defensive end: $21.3 million
Defensive tackle: $22.1 million
Linebacker: $24 million
Cornerback: $19.8 million
Safety: $17.1 million
Kicker/punter: $6 million

Transition tag:
Quarterback: $34.4 million
Running back: $9.8 million
Wide receiver: $19.8 million
Tight end: $10.9 million
Offensive lineman: $19 million
Defensive end: $19.1 million
Defensive tackle: $18.5 million
Linebacker: $20 million
Cornerback: $17.2 million
Safety: $13.8 million
Kicker/punter: $5.4 million

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts to a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Saints begin annual cap-clearing with QB Derek Carr restructure

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr agreed to restructure his contract to convert more than $28 million of his scheduled $30 million salary to a bonus, creating sorely needed salary cap relief.

The details of the accounting were confirmed by Spotrac, which projected the Saints to be over the $246 million adjusted salary cap by more than $74 million before the conversion.

The annual salary-gap gymnastics are a matter of course in New Orleans, where it has become typical to reach the required maximum expenditure threshold with extensions and conversions before the NFL league year begins every March.

Carr, 32, signed a four-year, $150 million contract in March 2023 after he was released by the Las Vegas Raiders. His scheduled cap hit for 2024 before the restructure becomes official was $36 million and included a portion of his deferred signing bonus.

–Field Level Media

Nov 6, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) runs for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Rams restructure Cooper Kupp deal, save $10.4M against cap

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The Los Angeles Rams restructured the contract of star wide receiver Cooper Kupp, clearing $10.44 million in salary cap space for 2023, ESPN reported Wednesday.

The Rams achieved the savings by converting $13.92 million of Kupp’s salary into a signing bonus, per the report. The Rams had only $1.3 million in cap space available before this move and have yet to sign all of their 2023 draft picks.

Kupp’s 2022 season ended prematurely after he sustained a high ankle sprain on Nov. 13 in a home loss against the Arizona Cardinals. He later underwent surgery.

Kupp had 75 receptions for 812 yards and six touchdowns in nine games last season. He led the NFL in catches (145), receiving yards (1,947) and TD receptions (16) in 2021 and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He also earned Super Bowl LVI MVP honors in the Rams’ win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Rams signed Kupp, 29, to a three-year, $80.1 million contract extension in June 2022.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) leaves the field Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, after losing a game 20-3 against the Los Angeles Chargers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Colts rework DeForest Buckner’s deal to clear $2.5M

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts cleared $2.5 million in salary cap space by restructuring defensive tackle DeForest Buckner’s contract, according to multiple reports.

The Colts converted $5 million of Buckner’s 2023 salary into a signing bonus.

The 29-year-old veteran will earn a fully guaranteed salary of $19.75 million this season.

Indianapolis now has $22.4 million in cap room — the fourth most in the NFL, according to OverTheCap.com.

Buckner recorded eight sacks, 22 quarterback hits and 74 tackles in 17 games (16 starts) last season.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection and 2020 All-Pro has 53 sacks, 140 QB hits, 463 tackles and nine fumble recoveries in 112 games (109 starts) with the San Francisco 49ers (2016-19) and Colts.

–Field Level Media