NFL Team Cap Commitments, Part Two
The second 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 a few weeks 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.
Here is Part One of this series. I will now go over eight more teams for Part Two.
Dallas Cowboys
QB: Dak Prescott: $26.8M
RB: Tony Pollard: $10.1M
WR: CeeDee Lamb: $4.5M
WR: Brandin Cooks: $6M
WR: Michael Gallup: $6.8M
TE: Jake Ferguson: $1M
LT: Tyron Smith: $8M
LG: Tyler Smith: $3M
C: Tyler Biadasz: $2.9M
RG: Zack Martin: $11M
RT: Terence Steele: $4.3M
ID: Osa Odighizuwa: $1.4M
ID: Mazi Smith: $2.4M
EDGE: Micah Parsons: $4.7M
EDGE: Demarcus Lawrence: $17.1M
EDGE: Dorance Armstrong Jr.: $7.3M
LB: Leighton Vander Esch: $3.1M
LB: Damone Clark: $930K
CB: Trevon Diggs: $4.8M
CB: Stephon Gilmore: $10.9M
S: Malik Hooker: $4.3M
S: Jayron Kearse: $6.2M
The Cowboys have five players who take up the majority of the cap resources, with one (Tony Pollard) under the franchise tag. An extension would lower his cap number, but it remains to be seen if he signs an extension or simply plays under the tag for the year. The Cowboys do benefit from some players who are still on rookie contracts, but the time is nearing that they will be up for extensions. That means some choices will have to be made as the Cowboys try to remain a playoff contender.
Denver Broncos
QB: Russell Wilson: $22M
RB: Javonte Williams: $2.4M
WR: Courtland Sutton: $18.3M
WR: Jerry Jeudy: $4.8M
WR: Tim Patrick: $11.1M
TE: Greg Dulcich: $1.2M
LT: Garett Bolles: $17.8M
LG: Ben Powers: $5.3M
C: Lloyd Cushenberry III: $3M
RG: Quinn Meinerz: $1.3M
RT: Mike McGlinchey: $6M
ID: Zach Allen: $6M
ID: D.J. Jones: $13M
EDGE: Randy Gregory: $16.1M
EDGE: Baron Browning: $1.3M
EDGE: Nik Bonitto: $1.3M
LB: Alex Singleton: $3.3M
LB: Josey Jewell: $7.1M
CB: Patrick Surtain II: $5.7M
CB: Damarri Mathis: $1.1M
S: Justin Simmons: $18.2M
S: Kareem Jackson: $2.6M
The Broncos are built to be a playoff contender but are coming off a disappointing season. If they don't make the playoffs this season, changes will be coming. Of course, much is contingent upon Wilson bouncing back. If he does, the Broncos will still have to look to the draft to replenish the roster next year, given that they've committed a lot of cap and cash resources.
Detroit Lions
QB: Jared Goff: $31M
RB: David Montgomery: $2.8M
WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown: $1.1M
WR: Josh Reynolds: $4M
WR: Jameson Williams: $4M
TE: Sam LaPorta: $750K
LT: Taylor Decker: $19.4M
LG: Jonah Jackson: $3.3M
C: Frank Ragnow: $16.5M
RG: Halapoulivaati Vaitai: $5.1M
RT: Penei Sewell: $6.6M
ID: Alim McNeill: $1.4M
ID: Isaiah Buggs: $1.7M
EDGE: Aidan Hutchinson: $8.1M
EDGE: James Houston IV: $970K
EDGE: John Cominsky: $2.3M
LB: Jack Campbell: $2.7M
LB: Alex Anzalone: $2.5M
CB: Cam Sutton: $3.3M
CB: Emmanuel Moseley: $4.3M
S: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson Jr.: $4.5M
S: Tracy Walker: $6.3M
The Lions have a lot of cap resources invested in the offense. That's interesting considering where the Lions were two years ago, in that they were starting a rebuild, but have opted to stick with Jared Goff. If the Lions don't take the next step, though, they will need to think about drafting a QB. As for the defense, they don't have any major decisions to make about extensions this year.
Green Bay Packers
QB: Jordan Love: $4.4M
RB: Aaron Jones: $8.2M
WR: Christian Watson: $2.1M
WR: Romeo Doubs: $1M
WR: Samori Toure: $889K
TE: Luke Musgrave: $750K
LT: David Bakhtiari: $21.3M
LG: Elgton Jenkins: $7M
C: Josh Myers: $1.5M
RG: Jon Runyan: $2.8M
RT: Zach Tom: $996K
ID: Kenny Clark: $12.9M
ID: Devonte Wyatt: $2.9M
EDGE: Rashan Gary: $10.9M
EDGE: Preston Smith: $6.4M
EDGE: Lukas Van Ness: $750K
LB: De'Vondre Campbell: $5.5M
LB: Quay Walker: $3.1M
CB: Jaire Alexander: $10.8M
CB: Rasul Douglas: $4.4M
S: Darnell Savage Jr.: $2.4M
S: Rudy Ford: $1.5M
After trading Aaron Rodgers, the Packers considerably reduced their resources committed to the offense. Only David Bakhtiari has a high cap hit and the Packers could get out of his deal next season. The majority of cap resources are devoted to the defense and they will need to decide if Darnell Savage Jr. is worth extending after the season. They gave a short-term extension to Jordan Love rather than pick up his fifth-year option, which means they will keep him for a lower cap hit in 2024.
Houston Texans
QB: C.J. Stroud: TBD
RB: Dameon Pierce: $1.1M
WR: Robert Woods: $5.5M
WR: Nico Collins: $1.3M
WR: John Metchie III: $1.8M
TE: Dalton Schultz: $2.8M
LT: Laremy Tunsil: $26.6M
LG: Kenyon Green: $3.6M
C: Juice Scruggs: $1.1M
RG: Shaq Mason: $8.5M
RT: Tytus Howard: $13.2M
ID: Sheldon Rankins: $4.3M
ID: Maliek Collins: $7.4M
EDGE: Will Anderson Jr.: $6.4M
EDGE: Jerry Hughes: $6.3M
EDGE: Jonathan Greenard: $1.4M
LB: Denzel Perryman: $2.3M
LB: Christian Kirksey: $6.3M
CB: Derek Stingley Jr.: $7.9M
CB: Steven Nelson: $5.6M
S: Jimmie Ward: $4.9M
S: Jalen Pitre: $2M
For the past couple of seasons, the Texans have acted like a team that was going to be rebuild, but only once they parted ways with DeShaun Watson, then found their next quarterback. Now that they have drafted CJ Stroud, should he prove to be the guy, the Texans need to devote more cap resources to either their own players or to free agents to take advantage of his cheap contract. Tytus Howard might be an extension candidate if the Texans like his play at right tackle.
Indianapolis Colts
QB: Anthony Richardson: TBD
RB: Jonathan Taylor: $5.1M
WR: Michael Pittman Jr.: $4M
WR: Alec Pierce: $1.5M
WR: Isaiah McKenzie: $1.1M
TE: Mo Alie-Cox: $5.3M
LT: Bernhard Raimann: $1.2M
LG: Quenton Nelson: $12.2M
C: Ryan Kelly: $12.4M
RG: Will Fries: $961K
RT: Braden Smith: $19M
ID: DeForest Buckner: $17.3M
ID: Grover Stewart: $10.9M
EDGE: Kwity Paye: $3.7M
EDGE: Samson Ebukam: $5.2M
EDGE: Dayo Odeyingbo: $1.7M
LB: Shaquille Leonard: $20M
LB: Zaire Franklin: $3M
CB: Isaiah Rodgers: $2.8M
CB: Kenny Moore II: $8.2M
S: Julian Blackmon: $3M
S: Rodney Thomas II: $894K
The Colts have devoted much of their cap resources on offense to the offensive line, while on defense, it's mostly Shaq Leonard and the defensive line. That they will have Anthony Richardson on a cheap contract for the next four seasons, plus will have a lot of cap space for 2024, gives them a chance to commit more resources elsewhere if Richardson plays well. One extension candidate is Michael Pittman Jr., who enters the final year of his rookie contract.
Jacksonville Jaguars
QB: Trevor Lawrence: $10M
RB: Travis Etienne: $3.5M
WR: Calvin Ridley: $11.2M
WR: Christian Kirk: $11.5M
WR: Zay Jones: $5.8M
TE: Evan Engram: $11.3M
LT: Cam Robinson: $22.1M
LG: Ben Bartch: $2.9M
C: Luke Fortner: $1.3M
RG: Brandon Scherff: $10.1M
RT: Anton Harrison: $2.4M
ID: Davon Hamilton: $3.8M
ID: Roy Robertson-Harris: $5.8M
EDGE: Josh Allen: $10.9M
EDGE: K'Lavon Chaisson: $4.2M
EDGE: Travon Walker: $8.5M
LB: Foyesade Oluokun: $8.8M
LB: Devin Lloyd: $2.9M
CB: Tyson Campbell: $2.5M
CB: Darious Williams: $12.5M
S: Rayshawn Jenkins: $5.4M
S: Andre Cisco: $1.4M
The Jaguars spent a lot of money in 2022 free agency, in part to take advantage of Trevor Lawrence's cheap contract. They still have a lot of cap and cash commitments for 2023 but were quiet in free agency. Now comes a point in which they have to think about extending players whose rookie deals are expiring. Josh Allen is a good example and Calvin Ridley might be another. They also have Evan Engram on the franchise tag and, next season, Lawrence will be eligible for an extension. I would expect the Jaguars to remain a team committing a lot of cap resources overall, but the makeup could change next season.
Kansas City Chiefs
QB: Patrick Mahomes: $39.7M
RB: Isiah Pacheco: $889K
WR: Marquez Valdes-Scantling: $11M
WR: Kadarius Toney: $1.9M
WR: Skyy Moore: $1.5M
TE: Travis Kelce: $14.8M
LT: Donovan Smith: $2.8M
LG: Joe Thuney: $22.1M
C: Creed Humphrey: $1.5M
RG: Trey Smith: $972K
RT: Jawaan Taylor: $5.8M
ID: Chris Jones: $28.3M
ID: Derrick Nnadi: $1.1M
EDGE: George Karlaftis: $2.7M
EDGE: Charles Omenihu: $4.9M
EDGE: Felix Anudike-Uzomah: $2.1M
LB: Nick Bolton: $1.6M
LB: Willie Gay Jr.: $1.7M
CB: L'Jarius Sneed: $3M
CB: Trent McDuffie: $3.2M
S: Justin Reid: $12.7M
S: Bryan Cook: $1.3M
It's not surprising that the Chiefs are devoting a lot of resources to Patrick Mahomes, but the 10-year deal he signed still favors the team because it keeps him under contract as QB salaries continue to rise. With that said, the Chiefs do have decisions ahead which could change the makeup of the resources they commit elsewhere. One major decision is whether or not to extend Chris Jones. And, next season, they'll have to think about extensions for Creed Humphrey and Nick Bolton. The same could be true for Kadarius Toney if he plays better this and next season.