The NFL’s 2025 salary cap is set at $279.2 million per team, a $23.8 million increase from last season. That’s the fourth straight year of a record-breaking cap, fueled by the league’s skyrocketing revenue. Total projected player costs—including benefits—are estimated at $362.48 million per team.
More money sounds great, right? Not for everyone. Some teams are swimming in cap space, while others are already over the limit and scrambling to fix their books. The deadline is March 12 at 4 p.m. ET. That’s when every franchise has to be under the cap, or they’ll be forced to cut players, restructure contracts, or offload salaries just to stay compliant.
Front offices are about to get creative. Some teams will drop massive contracts, others will backload deals, and a few might just tank the season in disguise. Let’s break down who’s spending, who’s struggling, and which teams have no room to breathe.
A handful of teams have the financial freedom to do whatever they want this offseason. The New England Patriots sit at the top with $125.58 million in cap space—more than enough to go after marquee free agents and reshape their roster.
Other teams in a strong position:
The Las Vegas Raiders are in desperate need of a quarterback and could afford to make a splash. The Washington Commanders have the cap space to add pieces around their young core, and the Chicago Bears are positioned to throw money at free agents, especially if they land a top quarterback in the draft.
For teams with this much room, the question isn’t if they’ll spend—it’s how aggressive they’ll get.
Not every team is celebrating the rising salary cap. Some franchises are already over the limit, and they have just weeks to fix it before the new league year begins.
The New Orleans Saints are in the worst spot, sitting $51.20 million over the cap—the most of any team. They’ve been playing financial gymnastics for years, pushing contracts into future seasons to stay competitive, and now? The bill is due.
Other teams deep in the red:
These teams don’t have a choice. They have to make cuts, restructure deals, or offload players. The Cleveland Browns will need to make tough decisions on their roster, and the Buffalo Bills might have to part ways with key veterans.
The next few weeks are about survival. Some of these teams will find loopholes to buy themselves time, others will take the hit now to fix their finances long-term. Either way, expect a brutal wave of cuts and restructures before the March 12 deadline.
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