The steady rise of the NFL salary cap looks like it will continue, and a possible record single-year expansion may occur.
The NFL informed teams Tuesday the 2019 cap is expected to fall between $187-$191MM, per spokesman Brian McCarthy (on Twitter). This would mark the sixth straight year the cap has risen more than $10MM. Teams’ salary ceilings are $177.2MM this year, and a spike to $191MM would represent one of the greatest bumps in NFL cap history.
Next season will mark the penultimate slate of the 2011 CBA, and while another lockout could well be coming in 2021, 2010s’ final season will bring more of the same, financially speaking. The cap is set for a 40 percent spike from 2013, when it resided at $133MM.
Here’s what the league’s salary cap has looked like over the last few years:
- 2013: $123MM
- 2014: $133MM
- 2015: $143.28MM
- 2016: $155.27MM
- 2017: $167MM
- 2018: $177.2MM
The cap’s growth can be seen in the spike in quarterback salaries, with Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan becoming the league’s first $30MM-AAV players in 2018. Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack also broke through what had been a steady ceiling for defenders, each elite edge rusher procuring at least a $23MM-per-year accord. Tuesday’s news will benefit the next crop of free agents and impact extension candidates.
Misleading headline. The salary cap is expected to fall, but we mean go up.
Thank you
It’s expected to fall within the staged range in the headline, not decrease.
Thank you
Make sure to spend it on sub 500 QB’s.
Since the cap increase will benefit the next crop of free agents, the result will be more L’Veon Bell type holdouts which neither fans or teams want.
QB’s are the most overrated overpriced players on the team. Just like CEO’s are the least important person at the company but makes the most regardless of performance. The best possible spot to be in is to be the best back up QB in the league. Frank Reich made a career out being a back up QB never got hurt (until he played in Detroit) & now is a highly paid coach. Give me his path any day!
A backup player is expected to spend just as much time as a starter studying the playbook, watching game film and practicing drills yet the payoff for them both financially and psychologically is not as good. If your main concern is staying healthy you could simply apply for a job at Walmart.