2025 Salary Cap

[*pally*]

The NFL today informed teams that the 2025 per-team salary cap will fall in the range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million, way up from last year's $255.4 million. Cap will have increased by more than $53 million over the last two years.

— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 19, 2025

[SunsetBengal]

Damn, I wish my job came with an 8.6-10.2% raise each year.

[Soonerpeace]

My math for the Bengals' available cash and cap space was based on an estimated 2025 cap of $278M when it was widely projected at a more conservative $272M, so I'll take this as a win.

That's a 9-10.5% increase from 2024 ($255.4M), which was a 13.6% increase from 2023 ($224.8M) https://t.co/Ws4wbIpcdt pic.twitter.com/dMIBxYzSiR

— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) February 19, 2025

[Soonerpeace]

Yeah these projections don't need to change that much - I was maybe a little low here on all of these contracts, but that's a difference of maybe $8M a year. Peanuts with these cap increases. https://t.co/WLbkRRrPVG

— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) February 19, 2025

[Luvnit2]

(02-19-2025, 03:41 PM)pally Wrote:

The NFL today informed teams that the 2025 per-team salary cap will fall in the range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million, way up from last year's $255.4 million. Cap will have increased by more than $53 million over the last two years.

— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 19, 2025

The thing about % increases, the higher the starting amount = more dollars.

10% increase in 2026 will add 27.8 million more in cap space.

This helps in 2025, but projections were fairly close on over the cap and Spotrac what NFL announced today. It appears Bengals will gain and additional 3 million in cap space on Spotrac if 278 million. It is projected now at 275 million + we carried over 6 million from 2024.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

Thanks, yeah I think Ja'Marr will fetch around 36 mil per year and 28 mil for Tee is a bit steep in my eyes with his injury history.

[BFritz21]

(02-19-2025, 05:15 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Thanks, yeah I think Ja'Marr will fetch around 36 mil per year and 28 mil for Tee is a bit steep in my eyes with his injury history.

That's what I'm saying. I realize he's talented, but there will be plenty of free agent receivers, as well as our own guys possibly developing more, that can step in for a fraction of the price and allow us to use the money in more important positions for us, like interior DL and guard.

28 per is way too steep.

[Luvnit2]

I understand it is easy math, take a player's full contract for years and divide it for 4 years to calculate the cap space taken. But, in larger contracts it is not accurate for a lot of reasons. A QB like Burrow in his prime will get paid most of his contract, but Bengals have outs of paying it 100% if he gets injured. Only one player has a guaranteed contract 100% and thay is Watson of the Browns.

The cash guarantee at signing is a better indication of what will be paid. Tee will not get anything close to a guarantted contract. My guess whether us or someone else due to his injury history, he will be lucky to get 60& and more likely closer to 50% guaranteed. Kelcie may retire and he will walk away from 17 million dollars in 2025, so the contract he signed, in the end he gets 17 million less. It works the same way if a team cuts a guy for injury or does not perform and earn the contract.

If Tee gets 28 million per year for 4 years, that is 112 million. But if only 60% is guaranteed, his number falls to 67.2 million the team is on the hook for guaranteed. Thus the cap numbers is much lower than 26 million average per year in years 1 and 2. If Higgins keeps getting injured or does not play well, he will never see all of the 112 million, but he is guaranteed the 67.2 million.

My point is fans say we have 50 million in cap space and if we sign a guy for 26 million per year immediately think we now only have 24 million left and that is not the case in a lot of cases.

[J24]

https://twitter.com/JakeLiscow/status/1892289700930765148?s=19

[pulses]

(02-19-2025, 05:15 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Thanks, yeah I think Ja'Marr will fetch around 36 mil per year and 28 mil for Tee is a bit steep in my eyes with his injury history.

It's gonna take 40 to sign Chase IMO.

[Nicomo Cosca]

(02-19-2025, 05:15 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Thanks, yeah I think Ja'Marr will fetch around 36 mil per year and 28 mil for Tee is a bit steep in my eyes with his injury history.

That was the price before the triple crown. Gonna cost even more now. They ****** around and cost themselves about 3-4 million more annually.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

The cap going up isn't just extra free space, because salaries for the top tier of players will jump accordingly.

In 2023 there were only 3 WRs making more than $25m/yr and none more than $30m/yr.
In 2024 there were 10 WRs making more than $25m/yr and 4 more than $30m/yr.

In 2025, Chase, Higgins, McLaurin, Metcalf, G Wilson, London, and Olave are all candidates for >$25m/yr on top of the current 10, so a potential 17.... and Chase might push near $40m/yr.

[Nepa]

(02-19-2025, 11:41 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: That was the price before the triple crown. Gonna cost even more now. They ****** around and cost themselves about 3-4 million more annually.

Whoever last year said let's not finalize a deal with Chase now, but wait another year, should be fired. Total financial mismanagement. 

[PCB Bengal Fan]

If Chase is gonna be close to 40 a year then Higgins needs traded. 35 or 36 a year for Chase & 28 a year for Higgins to me should be the max. Put the money toward the o-line & let Joe cook with extra time to throw. I'd rather have all-pros on the line.

[Nicomo Cosca]

(Yesterday, 01:21 PM)PCB Bengal Fan Wrote: If Chase is gonna be close to 40 a year then Higgins needs traded. 35 or 36 a year for Chase & 28 a year for Higgins to me should be the max. Put the money toward the o-line & let Joe cook with extra time to throw. I'd rather have all-pros on the line.

What All Pro’s are hitting FA that they’re going to bring in? Certainly not this year. Trey Smith is the top OL in this cycle and he’s never even been 2nd Team.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(02-19-2025, 05:50 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: That's what I'm saying. I realize he's talented, but there will be plenty of free agent receivers, as well as our own guys possibly developing more, that can step in for a fraction of the price and allow us to use the money in more important positions for us, like interior DL and guard.

28 per is way too steep.

Agree, if it is me I trade Tee for some picks or for a player. He has value as he is the consensus top FA this year.

(02-19-2025, 11:36 PM)pulses Wrote: It's gonna take 40 to sign Chase IMO.

Whoa, that is a lot of dough but doesn't surprise me. Ja'Marr Chase is the best WR in the NFL after last season and should be paid like it.

(02-19-2025, 11:41 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: That was the price before the triple crown. Gonna cost even more now. They ****** around and cost themselves about 3-4 million more annually.

Yes sir Nicomo, they messed up and will have to pay big time for it.

(Yesterday, 01:41 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: What All Pro’s are hitting FA that they’re going to bring in? Certainly not this year. Trey Smith is the top OL in this cycle and he’s never even been 2nd Team.

And Trey Smith didn't look good in the Playoffs and looked terrible in the Super Bowl. 

I am liking Will Fries, James Daniels and Tevin Jenkins maybe more now. Just hoping our new OL coach Scott Peters can get the best out 
of everybody and maybe even coach up youth eh?

[Sled21]

(02-19-2025, 05:50 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: That's what I'm saying. I realize he's talented, but there will be plenty of free agent receivers, as well as our own guys possibly developing more, that can step in for a fraction of the price and allow us to use the money in more important positions for us, like interior DL and guard.

28 per is way too steep.

28 is a good number, they just have to link it to a certain percentage of games played. Guarding against his injuries is an easy fix.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(Yesterday, 02:53 PM)Sled21 Wrote: 28 is a good number, they just have to link it to a certain percentage of games played. Guarding against his injuries is an easy fix.

I know TLL cut down my incentive laden contract idea, but even a little bit of incentives for Tee is a good thing if we really want to extend him.

Give him a bump in his pay for playing in more games. Not a new idea that would help the team and Tee if he does play more.

[BFritz21]

(Yesterday, 02:48 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Agree, if it is me I trade Tee for some picks or for a player. He has value as he is the consensus top FA this year.

Exactly and we need some upgrades at crucial positions. The money can be much better spent elsewhere.

(Yesterday, 02:53 PM)Sled21 Wrote: 28 is a good number, they just have to link it to a certain percentage of games played. Guarding against his injuries is an easy fix.

But then does Tee play more timidly? 

Also, 28, good number or not, may protect us financially, but I care about production. Say he misses three or four games and we lose one or two of those, and then miss the playoffs by a game or two, did we make a good deal because we're protected financially?

I'd rather have a less talented receiver that's always on the field, which I know anyone can get injured, but you know what I mean.

Watch these highlights from last season and tell me which play is worth 28 million with an injury risk that we couldn't find in free agency or a player already on the team.

[video=youtube][/video]

There were a few nice plays, but were those few "nice" plays worth 28 million, especially with the injury risk?

[t3r3e3]

(02-19-2025, 05:15 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Thanks, yeah I think Ja'Marr will fetch around 36 mil per year and 28 mil for Tee is a bit steep in my eyes with his injury history.

Jamar likely getting 38-40/yr. Pumpkin and crew messed up slow rolling his contract…