The NFL sent a memo to teams this week stating the 2025 NFL salary cap has surpassed beyond initial estimates.
Though the NFL has yet to finalzie the salary cap for the 2025 NFL season, ESPN’s Dan Graziano has reported that pending a few decisions from the NFLPA, the limit is expected to land between $277.5 million to $281.5 million.
NFL Memo reads:
“As you know, the 2024 Player Cost and Salary Cap amount was reduced by $10 million per club, due to a $9 million smoothing adjustment and an incremental $1 million being added to Performance Based Pay. The parties agreed that the NFLPA would have the unilateral right to recover up to 50% of the $9 million deferral in the 2025 League Year, with any remaining amount being recovered in the 2026 League Year.
We presented a range of options to the NFL Players Association in December; however, we still have not been advised on how the Union plans to reinstate the deferral for the 2025 League Year. We expect to conclude negotiations over the 2025 Player Cost and Salary Cap amount next week but can provide a projected Salary Cap range of $277.5 – $281.5 million per Club that can be used in your planning leading into the Combine.
Keep in mind that this range is subject to change based on further negotiations with the NFL Players Association.”
In the 2024 season, the salary cap was set at $255 million, meaning this is an increase between $22 – $26 million, a substantial increase.
- 2016: $155.27M
- 2017: $167M (+$11.73M)
- 2018: $177.2M (+$10.2M)
- 2019: $188.2M (+11M)
- 2020: $198.2M (+10M)
- 2021: $182.5M (-$15.7M due to no fan attendance, COVID-19 restrictions)
- 2022: $208.2M (+$25.7M)
- 2023: $224.8M (+$16.6M)
- 2024: $255.4M (+$30.6M)
- 2025: est. $277.5M – $281.5M
Using the lower estimated $277.5 million, the Baltimore Ravens will have $10.95 million in cap space for the 2025 NFL season. However, the NFL is still processing “adjustments from 2024” based on contract bonuses, which could slightly increase or decrease their space before the league year is set.
If all holds true and the Ravens remain with $10.95 million in cap space, this places them No. 22 in cap space for the 2025 season. However, there are ways for them to open up cap space depending upon the circumstances surrounding multiple players on the roster.