NFL Team Cap Commitments, Part One
The first of a four-part series examining how much each NFL team commits cap space for players and what it means for the coming season.
We're about a month away from NFL training camps and, for the most part, teams have settled upon their roster going into them. There may be a couple of signings that happen before the camps start, 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.
I'll go over the teams in multiple installments, in alphabetical order, eight teams at a time.
Arizona Cardinals
QB: Kyler Murray: $16M
RB: James Conner: $9.5M
WR: Marquise Brown: $13.4M
WR: Rondale Moore: $1.9M
WR: Zach Pascal: $1.8M
TE: Zach Ertz: $11.6M
LT: DJ Humphries: $12.5M
LG: Paris Johnson Jr.: $5.1M
C: Hjalte Froholdt: $1.8M
RG: Will Hernandez: $3.6M
RT: Kelvin Beachum: $2.6M
IDL: Leki Fotu: $1.2M
IDL: Jonathan Ledbetter: $870K
EDGE: Cameron Thomas: $1.2M
EDGE: Myjai Sanders: $1.1M
EDGE: Victor Dimunkeje: $980K
LB: Zaven Collins: $4M
LB: Kyzir White: $3.3M
CB: Antonio Hamilton: $1.5M
CB: Marco Wilson: $1.1M
S: Budda Baker: $16.9M
S: Jalen Thompson: $5.3M
The Cardinals are a team that was built the past couple of seasons with playoffs in mind but has failed to get there. They are entering a transitory period, in which they have released multiple veterans and are switching to lower-cost players while committing more resources to the quarterback position. Given that Kyler Murray's contract structure is player friendly, it's possible the Cardinals could part ways with other veterans if they don't get back to the playoffs this season.
Atlanta Falcons
QB: Desmond Ridder: $1.2M
RB: Bijan Robinson: $4M
WR: Drake London: $4.9M
WR: Mack Hollins: $2.5M
WR: Scotty Miller: $1.1M
TE: Kyle Pitts: $9M
LT: Jake Matthews: $28.4M
LG: Matthew Bergeron: $750K
C: Drew Dalman: $1.1M
RG: Chris Lindstrom: $13.7M
RT: Kaleb McGary: $5.5M
IDL: Grady Jarrett: $20.6M
IDL: Calais Campbell: $7.5M
EDGE: Lorenzo Carter: $4.3M
EDGE: Arnold Ebiketie: $2M
EDGE: Bud Dupree: $2.8M
LB: Kaden Elliss: $4.5M
LB: Mykal Walker: $2.9M
CB: A.J. Terrell: $4.6M
CB: Darren Hall: $1.1M
S: Jessie Bates III: $9.5M
S: Richie Grant: $2.3M
The Falcons have gone through a gradual rebuild the past couple of seasons and are hedging their bets on Desmond Ridder becoming the quarterback they can build around. They have invested plenty of cap resources on the offensive line while Grady Jarrett consumes the bulk of cap resources on defense. If Ridder doesn't prove to be the guy, the Falcons will need to be aggressive in drafting a quarterback in 2024.
Baltimore Ravens
QB: Lamar Jackson: $22.2M
RB: J.K. Dobbins: $1.8M
WR: Odell Beckham Jr.: $3.9M
WR: Rashod Bateman: $3.4M
WR: Zay Flowers: $750K
TE: Mark Andrews: $13.7M
LT: Ronnie Stanley: $23.7M
LG: Ben Cleveland: $1.3M
C: Tyler Linderbaum: $3M
RG: Kevin Zeitler: $5.2M
RT: Morgan Moses: $5.5M
IDL: Michael Pierce: $3.2M
IDL: Justin Madubuike: $3M
EDGE: Broderick Washington Jr.: $1.1M
EDGE: Odafe Oweh: $3M
EDGE: Tyus Bowser: $6.5M
LB: Roquan Smith: $9M
LB: Patrick Queen: $3.9M
CB: Marlon Humphrey: $20M
CB: Rock Ya-Sin: $2.4M
S: Kyle Hamilton: $3.7M
S: Marcus Williams: $7.3M
The Ravens have invested a lot of cap resources into the offense, as one would expect when they have a clear top 10 quarterback (and arguably top five). They have more resources on defense invested in the cornerback and linebacker positions, while going with lower-cost players for the pass rush. For the short term, this approach should be fine, but if their pass rushers prove worthy of extensions, the Ravens will have to make decisions in the years ahead about which older veterans are worth keeping.
Buffalo Bills
QB: Josh Allen: $18.6M
RB: James Cook: $1.3M
WR: Stefon Diggs: $14.9M
WR: Gabriel Davis: $2.9M
TE: Dawson Knox: $6.4M
TE: Dalton Kincaid: $2.4M
LT: Dion Dawkins: $14.9M
LG: Connor McGovern: $4M
C: Mitch Morse: $11.4M
RG: Ryan Bates: $4.9M
RT: Spencer Brown: $1.3M
IDL: Ed Oliver: $5M
IDL: DaQuan Jones: $8.6M
EDGE: Von Miller: $8M
EDGE: Gregory Rousseau: $3.2M
EDGE: Shaq Lawson: $1.1M
LB: Matt Milano: $7.1M
LB: Tyrel Dodson: $2M
CB: Tre'Davious White: $16.2M
CB: Dane Jackson: $2M
S: Jordan Poyer: $4.9M
S: Micah Hyde: $10.5M
The Bills are a team in pursuit of a Super Bowl and their commitments demonstrate that. If they don't make the Super Bowl this season, though, they will need to reassess their strategy. They are projected to be over the cap next year and will have to determine how to best utilize resources. If they do win the Super Bowl, they could consider restructuring contracts in the hopes of repeating.
Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young: TBD
Miles Sanders: $2.6M
D.J. Chark Jr.: $1.9M
Adam Thielen: $3.3M
Terrace Marshall Jr.: $1.6M
Hayden Hurst: $3.2M
Ikem Ekwonu: $6.3M
Brady Christensen: $1.4M
Bradley Bozeman: $2.7M
Austin Corbett: $5.2M
Taylor Moton: $13.5M
Derrick Brown: $7.5M
Shy Tuttle: $2.9M
Brian Burns: $16M
Marquis Haynes: $3.5M
Yetur Gross-Matos: $2.6M
Frankie Luvu: $5.5M
Shaq Thompson: $14.1M
Jaycee Horn: $5.8M
Donte Jackson: $7.5M
Vonn Bell: $3.1M
Xavier Woods: $4.4M
The Panthers, on the other hand, are a team that is clearly rebuilding. Bryce Young hasn't signed his rookie contract yet but his cap number will not be high when compared to other quarterbacks. The decision to trade DJ Moore freed up some cap space, meaning they were able to retain other veterans with large cap numbers. If Young shows he can be the QB to build around, the Panthers could consider spending more money in free agency next year in hopes of a playoff trip.
Chicago Bears
QB: Justin Fields: $5.1M
RB: Khalil Herbert: $972K
WR: D.J. Moore: $20.2M
WR: Chase Claypool: $3M
WR: Darnell Mooney: $3.1M
TE: Cole Kmet: $3.8M
LT: Braxton Jones: $944K
LG: Teven Jenkins: $2.3M
C: Cody Whitehair: $14.1M
RG: Nate Davis: $7M
RT: Darnell Wright: $3.8M
IDL: Andrew Billings: $2.7M
IDL: Justin Jones: $7.4M
EDGE: DeMarcus Walker: $6.4M
EDGE: Trevis Gipson: $2.8M
EDGE: Rasheem Green: $2.5M
LB: Tremaine Edmunds: $14.7M
LB: T.J. Edwards: $5M
CB: Jaylon Johnson: $3.6M
CB: Kindle Vildor: $2.8M
S: Jaquan Brisker: $1.7M
S: Eddie Jackson: $17.1M
The Bears started a rebuild in 2022 and committed more cap resources (and cash commitments) this season, no doubt because they are expecting a playoff trip. If they do make the playoffs, they could commit more resources to free agency in 2024, but will need to think about an extension for Justin Fields, too. For now, they are very much a team that enters year two of a rebuild but with the hopes that they will take the next step.
Cincinnati Bengals
QB: Joe Burrow: $11.5M
RB: Joe Mixon: $12.8M
WR: Ja'Marr Chase: $8.4M
WR: Tee Higgins: $4M
WR: Tyler Boyd: $10.3M
TE: Irv Smith Jr.: $1.8M
LT: Orlando Brown: $10.4M
LG: Cordell Volson: $1M
C: Ted Karras: $5.6M
RG: Alex Cappa: $8.8M
RT: Jonah Williams: $12.6M
IDL: D.J. Reader: $15.5M
IDL: B.J. Hill: $10.8M
EDGE: Trey Hendrickson: $15.5M
EDGE: Sam Hubbard: $10M
EDGE: Myles Murphy: $2.3M
LB: Germaine Pratt: $5.4M
LB: Logan Wilson: $3M
CB: Chidobe Awuzie: $8M
CB: Mike Hilton: $6M
S: Daxton Hill: $2.7M
S: Nick Scott: $2.4M
The Bengals have committed most of their defensive resources to the front five while spending less on the secondary. On offense, they have benefitted from Joe Burrow's rookie contract, but they are nearing the end of that benefit. It will be interesting to see what the Bengals do once Burrow is extended. They are a team that typically doesn't spend a lot of money, but they will have to make decisions about certain players on offense, particularly when it comes time for Ja'Marr Chase to be extended.
Cleveland Browns
QB: DeShaun Watson: $19.1M
RB: Nick Chubb: $14.9M
WR: Amari Cooper: $23.8M
WR: Donovan Peoples-Jones: $2.8M
WR: Elijah Moore: $1.5M
TE: David Njoku: $8.4M
LT: Jedrick Wills Jr.: $6.3M
LG: Joel Bitonio: $14.6M
C: Ethan Pocic: $2.1M
RG: Wyatt Teller: $15.4M
RT: Jack Conklin: $7.8M
IDL: Dalvin Tomlinson: $4.3M
IDL: Jordan Elliott: $3M
EDGE: Myles Garrett: $29.2M
EDGE: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo: $2.2M
EDGE: Alex Wright: $1.2M
LB: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: $1.8M
LB: Anthony Walker Jr.: $1.1M
CB: Denzel Ward: $12.2M
CB: Greg Newsome II: $3.5M
S: Rodney McLeod: $1.1M
S: Juan Thornhill: $2.3M
The Browns' cap commitments show they see themselves as a playoff contender. Whether they get there this season depends a lot on how DeShaun Watson plays. If they do make the playoffs, they will need to exercise caution in 2024 given their cap situation. Failure to make the playoffs likely means a regime change happens and certain players will be either cut or traded for draft capital.