NFL officially sets salary cap for 2025 season

The NFL has officially set its salary cap for the 2025 season. On Thursday, NFL teams were informed the salary cap is going to $279.2 million. It’s an increase of $23.8 million from last year.

Last week, the NFL sent a memo to all 32 teams that the salary cap was going to be in the range of $277.5 – $281.5. The memo also revealed why the salary cap hasn’t been set yet.

“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 memo read. “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 to the Combine. Keep in mind that this range is subject to change based on further negotiations with the NFL Players Association.”

More on the 2025 NFL salary cap

The salary cap announcement comes as NFL teams prepare for free agency. There are plenty of players that will likely hit the free agency market, but the most interesting name that could be playing with a new team is not a free agent.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford could be traded, as he has been granted permission to talk to other teams. It’s been reported that Stafford wants a new contract worth $50 million per year.

“There is no dispute, and let’s not get it twisted in regards to anybody wanting him to be our quarterback,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said about Stafford on the Fitz & Whit podcast, per NFL.com. “Now, there’s layers to it. You have to be able to say, hey, how do we continuously build? How do we support him? How do we make sure that he’s getting what is his worth relative to those things? So, at the end of the day, we had something in mind, he had something in mind, and nobody was right or wrong. And then ultimately you’re saying there’s a ton of interest because this guy is an incredible player.”