NFL sets salary cap at $182.5 million, down 8%
Mar 10, 2021, 12:16 PM | Updated: 12:17 pm
The NFL has announced that the 2021 salary cap will be $182.5 million, the first decrease in 10 years.
Last year’s cap: $198.2 million.
This year’s cap: $182.5 million.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2021
This season’s cap figure is an eight percent decrease from the $198.2 million allowed in 2020
According to ESPN, cap limits had risen in every year since 2011 in conjunction with rising league revenues, but a 92% drop in attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic led to reduced revenues in 2020.
Because of the eight percent decrease teams are expected to release a high number of veteran players to either get under the limit or make space for other roster needs.
According to the Denver Post’s Ryan O’Halloran, the Broncos have $44,975,008 of cap space not counting safety Justin Simmons’ unsigned franchise tender (estimated $13.729 million). If Simmons signs the tender before agreeing to a long-term deal, the Broncos have $31,246,008 of space.
Teams must be in compliance with the cap by next Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, when the new league year begins.
