Free agency is roughly one month away, and teams are preparing for the first major roster-building checkpoint on the offseason calendar. In several cases, of course, the lead-in to the start of the new league year will require cost-cutting measures.
Teams expect the 2025 cap ceiling to check in somewhere between $265MM and $275MM, providing a general target to aim for before the final figure is unveiled by the NFL. Using a projected cap of $272.5MM, here is a look at where all 32 teams currently stand (courtesy of Over the Cap):
- New England Patriots: $119.8MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $92.53MM
- Washington Commanders: $75.21MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $71.33MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $63.41MM
- Chicago Bears: $62.97MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $58.01MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $53.26MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $46.26MM
- Detroit Lions: $45.69MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $44.26MM
- Tennessee Titans: $44.08MM
- New York Giants: $43.38MM
- Green Bay Packers: $42.14MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $38.33MM
- Denver Broncos: $34.78MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $32.27MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $28.25MM
- Carolina Panthers: $20.33MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $18.08MM
- New York Jets: $16.86MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $5.96MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $2.24MM
- Houston Texans: $99K over the cap
- Kansas City Chiefs: $916K over
- Dallas Cowboys: $2.85MM over
- Miami Dolphins: $5.44MM over
- Atlanta Falcons: $11.15MM over
- Seattle Seahawks: $13.46MM over
- Buffalo Bills: $14.18MM over
- Cleveland Browns: $30.17MM over
- New Orleans Saints: $54.11MM over
These figures will of course change based on where the final cap ceiling winds up for the year, but they take into 
account each team’s carryover amount for 2025. Even with those savings in play, more than one quarter of the league finds itself in need of cost-shedding moves to simply achieve cap compliance by mid-March.
With the Patriots leading the way in terms of spending power, they will be a team to watch closely once free agency begins. The team’s willingness (or lack thereof) to make major free agent additions last year was a talking point, and it will be interesting to see if the regime featuring de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and new head coach Mike Vrabel takes a different approach in 2025. A serious push for Tee Higgins – by far the most sought-after wideout set to hit the market – can be expected.
Aside from Higgins, the Bengals have a number of financial priorities. Working out a monster extension for fellow receiver Ja’Marr Chase and a new deal (and accompanying raise) for edge rusher Trey Hendrickson are key goals for the franchise. Quarterback Joe Burrow is prepared to restructure his own pact to create cap space for this offseason, but the team will no doubt need to break with tradition in terms of contract structure and guarantees to keep its core intact.
The Colts’ offseason has been defined in large part by a focus on retaining in-house players during recent years. That approach has not paid off as hoped, and general manager Chris Ballard said last month he plans to oversee a shift in roster-building philosophy this year. With the finances to make at least a modest addition or two on the open market, Indianapolis could be a suitor for some of the middle-class free agent options.
Over the coming weeks, many teams will proceed with extensions and restructures to free up cap space; the Seahawks recently took the latter route with defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Teams like the Steelers (in the case of edge rusher Preston Smith) and Dolphins (with running back Raheem Mostert as well as corner Kendall Fuller and tight end Durham Smythe) have already begin cutting veterans to free up cap space. That will increasingly continue in the near future with respect to the teams currently slated to be over the cap in particular.
Saints about to add 60 void years on Derek Carr’s contract then cut everyone on a rookie contract to still be over the cap
Can Saints fans bring back the paper bag hats like in the 80’s?
Dusted mine off the other day!! LOL
Patriots need to target tee Higgins and Myles Garrett. They are loaded with money to spend
I doubt either player goes to sleep at night dreaming about joining the Patriots. Garrett in particular has stated he is only interested in playing for a SB contender (and that doesn’t sound like the Patriots). Kraft is probably already calculating how much of that $119.8MM he can spend on massages.
Lmao. But Higgins is possible. Paycheck there and automatic WR1 he could bite the offer I think. Commanders would be a serious spot for Garett tho
Higgins is the more likely but Burrow won’t be happy if the Bengals let the WR leave and don’t find a quality replacement. Giving Burrow $55MM then discarding his offensive weapons doesn’t make much sense.
Taking $55m and then being upset someone can’t stay is wild.
Obviously their defense needs work. Needs investments. You can’t pay 3 ppl $100+m and skimp on the rest of the team.
I think any player is justified at being upset if his ability to succeed is being handcuffed. If the salary cap can’t be managed properly, the sensible thing to do is replace the GM but I guess it’s easier to blame a player who had the audacity to actually get himself his full market value. Players certainly don’t owe owners any “team friendly” deals since the owners place no limit on their own greed. When was the last time an owner said “I’m going to offer “fan friendly” deals and cut ticket prices in half, so more people of limited income can come to the stadium and enjoy the games”?
Cowboys should just cut Dak and take a year off and try again in 2026.
Except Dak’s 90 million cap hit would balloon to 151 million.
A lot of money to spend. Bad FA class. And a bad draft. Some contracts this year will be looked at as a bad move within a year
Same thing said every year…bad draft, bad dree agents, blah blah. Then the next season starts, several rookies explode on the scene and several free agent pick ups have career years in new places that utilize them better.
It’s about who’s making the choices for those players