NFL Team Cap Commitments Part Four
The conclusion of the four-part series examining how much each NFL team commits cap space for players and what it means for the coming season.
NFL training camps will start this week and, by this point, teams have settled upon their roster going into them. There may be a couple of signings that happen during camps, but most transactions are finished until after training camp, when the time comes to finalize rosters for the regular season.
I wanted to look at the 32 NFL teams to see how much in cap space (though not cash resources) toward their projected starting lineups. This gives us an idea about how much space is committed toward particular positions and at what positions teams have to go with less expensive players.
Examining this aspect allows us to get an idea about what teams have signaled they are rebuilding, which ones have signaled they are playoff hopefuls and which ones have signaled they are in a "Super Bowl or bust" mindset.
As I go over the teams, I'll note which teams may be looking at extending certain players, which will lower their cap commitments (though cash commitments will increase) and which teams still have draft picks who are projected starters but haven't signed their contracts yet.
This is the final part of the series with the final eight teams to review. Here are Part One, Part Two and Part Three of this series.
New York Jets
QB: Aaron Rodgers: $1.2M
RB: Breece Hall: $2M
WR: Garrett Wilson: $4.7M
WR: Allen Lazard: $3.3M
WR: Corey Davis: $11.2M
TE: Tyler Conklin: $6.1M
LT: Duane Brown: $11.3M
LG: Laken Tomlinson: $10.9M
C: Joe Tippmann: $1.5M
RG: Alijah Vera-Tucker: $4.3M
RT: Mekhi Becton: $5.9M
ID: Quinnen Williams: $6.5M
ID: Al Woods: $2.2M
EDGE: John Franklin-Myers: $4.1M
EDGE: Carl Lawson: $3M
EDGE: Michael Clemons: $1.1M
LB: C.J. Mosley: $21.5M
LB: Quincy Williams: $2.4M
CB: Ahmad Gardner: $7.6M
CB: D.J. Reed Jr.: $8M
S: Jordan Whitehead: $5M
S: Chuck Clark: $4.1M
Rodgers' cap number may be small, but that's because it's currently structured so that the Jets could complete a trade with the Packers. He carries a massive $107.6M cap charge and the Jets have yet to rework the contract to bring some of that cash into 2023. The Jets recently extended Quinnen Williams and have declined the fifth-year option for Mekhi Becton given his health issues. The Jets clearly expect a playoff trip this season and, if they don't make the playoffs, it's likely changes are coming to the front office and coaching staff.
Philadelphia Eagles
QB: Jalen Hurts: $6.2M
RB: D'Andre Swift: $1.8M
WR: A.J. Brown: $8.3M
WR: DeVonta Smith: $5.5M
WR: Olamide Zaccheaus: $1.1M
TE: Dallas Goedert: $6.3M
LT: Jordan Mailata: $7.5M
LG: Landon Dickerson: $2.4M
C: Jason Kelce: $10.8M
RG: Cam Jurgens: $1.6M
RT: Lane Johnson: $14.7M
ID: Fletcher Cox: $5.7M
ID: Jalen Carter: $4M
EDGE: Haason Reddick: $7M
EDGE: Brandon Graham: $10.1M
EDGE: Josh Sweat: $5.9M
LB: Nakobe Dean: $1.2M
LB: Nicholas Morrow: $1.1M
CB: James Bradberry: $3.1M
CB: Darius Slay: $11.9M
S: Reed Blankenship: $871K
S: Terrell Edmunds: $2M
The Eagles are a team that has found a way to keep its roster intact while effectively managing cap space. Even after the extension that Jalen Hurts received, they have $13.8M in cap space at this point and are projected to have $47.1M next year, with Terrell Edmunds and Nicholas Morrow their top two free agents. Obviously, the Eagles aim for a return to the Super Bowl and, as long as players stay healthy, they should be a top contender in the NFC.
Pittsburgh Steelers
QB: Kenny Pickett: $3.2M
RB: Najee Harris: $3.6M
WR: Diontae Johnson: $1.63M
WR: George Pickens: $1.5M
WR: Allen Robinson II: $3.1M
TE: Pat Friermuth: $1.6M
LT: Broderick Jones: $3M
LG: Isaac Seumalo: $3.6M
C: Mason Cole: $7M
RG: James Daniels: $11.2M
RT: Chukwuma Okorafor: $13.1M
ID: Cam Heyward: $22.3M
ID: Larry Ogunjobi: $5M
ID: Montarvius Adams: $3.2M
EDGE: T.J. Watt: $29.4M
EDGE: Alex Highsmith: $4.4M
LB: Cole Holcomb: $2.7M
LB: Elandon Roberts: $2.3M
CB: Patrick Peterson: $4.2M
CB: Levi Wallace: $5.5M
S: Minkah Fitzpatrick: $8M
S: Damontae Kazee: $2.1M
With Kenny Pickett on a cheap rookie contract, the Steelers can take advantage by paying other players more money. They recently extended Alex Highsmith, for example. The Steelers haven't changed their general philosophy about utilizing signing bonuses as the main means of paying fully guaranteed money. In 2024, it's likely they will do some restructures to keep the roster intact, should Pickett improve and the Steelers reach the playoffs again. If not, the Steelers might have a difficult decision to make about Cameron Heyward -- he continues to play well but he'll be 35 next season.
San Francisco 49ers
QB: Brock Purdy: $889K
RB: Christian McCaffrey: $3.4M
WR: Deebo Samuel: $8.7M
WR: Brandon Aiyuk: $4M
WR: Jauan Jennings: $940K
TE: George Kittle: $18M
LT: Trent Williams: $27.2M
LG: Aaron Banks: $2M
C: Jake Brendel: $2.3M
RG: Spencer Bufford: $1M
RT: Colton McKivitz: $1.5M
ID: Javon Hargrave: $6.6M
ID: Arik Armstead: $23.8M
EDGE: Nick Bosa: $17.9M
EDGE: Drake Jackson: $1.3M
EDGE: Clelin Ferrell: $2.5M
LB: Fred Warner: $9M
LB: Dre Greenlaw: $5.5M
CB: Charvarius Ward: $6.5M
CB: Isaiah Oliver: $1.7M
S: Talanoa Hufanga: $1M
S: Tashaun Gipson Sr.: $2.1M
Whether it's Brock Purdy or Trey Lance who wins the starting job, the Niners will have a QB on an inexpensive contract. That has allowed the Niners to put more resources into the rest of the roster. Currently, they have four players who take up a lot of cap space. That's fine, as long as the Niners remain a playoff contender and they continue to get good production out of a young QB. Regardless of who wins the job, the Niners won't have to concern themselves with a QB extension, because Purdy isn't eligible until 2025 and, if Lance does win the job and plays well, the Niners may exercise his fifth-year option, then wait to see what he does over two full seasons.
Seattle Seahawks
QB: Geno Smith: $10.1M
RB: Kenneth Walker III: $1.9M
WR: D.K. Metcalf: $13.7M
WR: Tyler Lockett: $11.1M
WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba: $2.6M
TE: Noah Fant: $6.9M
LT: Charles Cross: $4.9M
LG: Damien Lewis: $3.3M
C: Evan Brown: $2.3M
RG: Phil Haynes: $4M
RT: Abraham Lucas: $1.2M
ID: Jarran Reed: $3M
ID: Dre'Mont Jones: $10.1M
EDGE: Uchenna Nwosu: $13M
EDGE: Darrell Taylor: $2.2M
EDGE: Boye Mafe: $1.9M
LB: Bobby Wagner: $7M
LB: Jordyn Brooks: $3.9M
CB: Tariq Woolen: $953K
CB: Devon Witherspoon: TBD
S: Quandre Diggs: $18.1M
S: Jamal Adams: $18.1M
The Seahawks signed Smith to a team-friendly extension that has allowed them to commit resources elsewhere. It's interesting that have committed more than $36M in cap space to two safeties. Next season, several players with smaller cap numbers this year will have larger numbers next year, so some decisions may have to be made. There are a couple of players who are up for extensions but the Seahawks may wait to see what these players do in 2023 before deciding whether or not to retain them.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
QB: Baker Mayfield: $1.7M
RB: Rachaad White: $1.2M
WR: Mike Evans: $23.7M
WR: Chris Godwin: $8.6M
WR: Russell Gage: $4.4M
TE: Cade Otton: $1.1M
LT: Tristan Wirfs: $3.7M
LG: Nick Leverett: $940K
C: Ryan Jensen: $6M
RG: Cody Mauch: TBD
RT: Luke Goedeke: $1.4M
ID: Vita Vea: $6.5M
ID: Calijah Kancey: $2.6M
EDGE: Shaquil Barrett: $21.3M
EDGE: Joe Tyron-Shoyinka: $3M
EDGE: Anthony Nelson: $2M
LB: Devin White: $11.7M
LB: Lavonte David: $1.8M
CB: Jamel Dean: $3.8M
CB: Carlton Davis: $7.5M
S: Antoine Winfield Jr.: $2.1M
S: Ryan Neal: $1.1M
The Buccaneers are entering their first year after Tom Brady's retirement and are simply navigating a tight cap situation while they figure out who will be the next quarterback. The restructures the Bucs utilized mean they will have several players who will carry dead money after their deals expire after the 2023 season. Meanwhile, they have decisions to make about a new contract for Devin White and, after that, they will likely turn their attentions to Tristen Wirfs. I would expect the Bucs to be looking closely at the 2024 QB draft class.
Tennessee Titans
QB: Ryan Tannehill: $36.6M
RB: Derrick Henry: $16.4M
WR: Treylon Burks: $3.3M
WR: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: $1.3M
WR: DeAndre Hopkins: TBD
TE: Chigoziem Okonkwo: $996K
LT: Andre Dillard: $2.6M
LG: Dillon Radunz: $1.7M
C: Aaron Brewer: $4.3M
RG: Daniel Brunskill: $2M
RT: Peter Skoronski: $3.6M
ID: Jeffrey Simmons: $6.4M
ID: Teair Tart: $4.3M
EDGE: Denico Autry: $9.1M
EDGE: Harold Landry III: $18.8M
EDGE: Arden Key: $2.9M
LB: Azeez Al-Shaair: $2.2M
LB: Monty Rice: $1.3M
CB: Roger McCreary: $2.1M
CB: Kristian Fulton: $1.7M
S: Kevin Byard: $11.3M
S: Amani Hooker: $8.9M
I don't have the cap numbers for DeAndre Hopkins but it struck me as a puzzling signing. Certainly Hopkins should take the deal he believes is best for him, but the Titans are a team that needs to be preparing for life after Ryan Tannehill. As things stand, they are still committing significant cap dollars to a declining quarterback. They did come to terms with Kevin Byard on a renegotiated deal and they are expected to have a lot of cap space for 2024. Still, this is a team that needs to be prepared to rebuild, rather than chasing after the seventh playoff spot or first place in a weak division.
Washington Commanders
QB: Sam Howell: $960K
RB: Brian Robinson Jr.: $1.1M
WR: Terry McLaurin: $11M
WR: Jahan Dotson: $3.4M
WR: Curtis Samuel: $13M
TE: Logan Thomas: $8.7M
LT: Charles Leno Jr.: $12.5M
LG: Andrew Norwell: $5.1M
C: Nick Gates: $3.3M
RG: Samuel Cosmi: $1.8M
RT: Andrew Wylie: $4.2M
ID: Jonathan Allen: $21.4M
ID: Daron Payne: $8.6M
EDGE: Montez Sweat: $11.5M
EDGE: Chase Young: $11M
EDGE: James Smith-Williams: $1M
LB: Jamin Davis: $3.8M
LB: Cody Barton: $3.5M
CB: Kendall Fuller: $11.6M
CB: Emmanuel Forbes: $2.8M
S: Kamren Curl: $3M
S: Darrick Forrest: $1M
If things work out with Sam Howell, they will have a QB on a small salary for the next two seasons and can afford to put resources elsewhere. However, that's not a guarantee that they keep Chase Young after declining his fifth-year option. The Commanders have put a lot of money into the front seven and may not have enough to pay everyone, even with a cheap QB. Along with Young, Montez Sweat's deal expires after 2023. If things don't work out with Howell, it won't surprise me to see the Commanders make changes in the front office and on the coaching staff, particulary with new ownership in place.