NFL: Salary Cap Jumps To (At Least) $301 Million Per Team For 2026
January 30th, 2026
Joe always has the following reaction when folks sweat the NFL salary cap:
What is expensive today is cheap tomorrow. The salary cap always goes up. The only time it drops is when there is an international pandemic. And yet again, Joe’s theory comes true.
Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the NFL informed teams that the salary cap is jumping about $30 million per team for 2026.
The NFL informed clubs today it is projecting a 2026 salary cap in the range of $301.2 million to $305.7 million per club, per source.
That would represent another significant jump from this year’s $279.2 million cap number, and nearly $100M than the $208.2M cap in 2022.
Per OverTheCap.com, the Bucs have some $16 million and change to play with under the cap. Factor in the low end of the new cap to be new cap of $301 million, that would give the Bucs some $36 million to play with.
Joe doesn’t want to hear anyone with the Bucs tying to poormouth fans saying they cannot afford to go out and get a veteran, proven edge rusher.
January 30th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
Good. Pay Mike. Not sure getting an edge rusher is a good idea because he’ll be used in coverage more than rushing.
January 30th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
WOW.
Well that completely blows out of the water any sort of salary predictions.
People complaining about Godwin getting $20M/year are now going to look like complete idiots when #3 WRs are getting that kind of money.
I thought Otton might cost like $5-7M to resign, now that’s out of the water.
The cap going up just means your existing salaries are a lot more valuable and the price of anything new goes through the roof.
January 30th, 2026 at 5:00 pm
Inflation adjustment.
January 30th, 2026 at 5:04 pm
Joe Says: “Joe doesn’t want to hear anyone with the Bucs trying to poormouth fans saying they cannot afford to go out and get a veteran, proven edge rusher.”
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Clearly, we can afford it. But will there be any veteran, proven edge rushers on the market?
Teams that already have them typically don’t like to let them go, unless they’re about to start a rebuild or are in deep salary cap hell.
January 30th, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Being able to PAY an edge rusher will be the easy part. They also need to be low/no cost in draft picks, and WANT to play for Coach Bowles. And if they are a true edge rusher, will Coach Bowles want them?
January 30th, 2026 at 5:18 pm
Finally, we havw room to sign a top shelf placeholder. Laces out!
January 30th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
With the players….oops l mean Loafers, we have on this roster
We should have over $250 million in cap space
That is , if we’re paying them a performance based salary
January 30th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
Now we have money to get Max Crosby!! Let’s go Jason, u would think Blows with his job on the line would be begging for someone who can get dble digit sacks to save his ass!
January 30th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
I’m all for us playing in FA a little more than normal this year if it means we can get a couple starters on defense. But they need to be guys that can fit into multiple schemes as it’s likely there’s a new coach in ‘27.
Don’t jam up our cap with guys that might not be here in two years.
January 30th, 2026 at 5:37 pm
The estimated cap space will go up more once the true off season starts.
January 30th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
They will need probably $22mil to re-sign Evans, $8mil to re-sign Otton, $11.75mil assigned to their rookie signing pool. They are now $11mil over the cap without signing any of their other free agents or outside LB’s. Now where is that cap space to sign that top edge rusher?
January 30th, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Riddick, for example, won’t be re-signed. That’s another $14m.
January 30th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Yep. And it’s only going up from there, with the new CBA and then with the next new tv-contract in a few years. It was malpractice not to be ‘all-in’ on the Micah Parsons trade. And, according to T-Krass a few minutes ago on WDAE, having $50-MILLION in “Dead Cap” dedicated to Chris Godwin next season.
January 30th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
NFL is about as corrupt as everything else.
January 30th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
Bridgewater is $1.2m saved when released.
White is $1.2m as well.
January 30th, 2026 at 5:50 pm
So, it’d make-it impossible to trade him. Possibly, even at the deadline. It’s Malpractice. Total incompetence. And, Recklessness.
January 30th, 2026 at 5:52 pm
MelvinJunior Says:
“T-Krass a few minutes ago on WDAE, having $50-MILLION in “Dead Cap” dedicated to Chris Godwin next season.”
His numbers are way off.
Godwin POTENTIAL OUT:
2027, 2 YR, $44,006,300
Dead Cap: $16,231,000
January 30th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
So they would pay Godwin $44m, but only $16m would be dead cap.
Not malpractice
January 30th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
Riddick, Bridgewater and White are free agents so their numbers are not in the Bucs cap number for 2026 only signed players are included.
January 30th, 2026 at 6:01 pm
@ Buccaneer Bonzai – your numbers were a lot more in-line with what I was thinking (or just assumed) made the most sense. But, after he said that though, I started thinking that they must’ve pushed everything from this past season onto next season then, or something!? I have no idea where he heard or got that number from!?
January 30th, 2026 at 6:04 pm
Grizzard hired by Eagles as pass game coordinator. LOL.
January 30th, 2026 at 6:08 pm
There should be base level pay scales for each position then pay incentives according to performance.
My guess is the play overall would be a lot better.
QB play in the NFL is at an all time low. It’s just putrid.
The only bad part of an increased salary cap is the ticket prices go up.
Regular people are being priced out of going to the games.
January 30th, 2026 at 6:10 pm
@ Buccaneer Bonzai Says: “So they would pay Godwin $44m, but only $16m would be dead cap.
Not malpractice.”
YES. STILL “Malpractice” 💯. I said it when they did it. I was SHOCKED. 3-YEARS. $44-MILLION FULLY-Guaranteed. No way to get out it! Absolutely, Absurd. He wasn’t worth $5-MILLION. 💯 I said to “re-sign” HIM, but ONLY on a 1-year ‘prove-it’ with a $10-Million Base +Incentives, that could get him up to a ‘potential’ $30-MIL. And, felt that was being VERY GENEROUS. Or, more of a favor. That contract Lickt gave him was PATHETIC. And, it possibly took us out of the running for Parsons. Especially, when you add the ‘additional’ $13-MIL for REDDICK. That I also, said “HELL NO” to.
January 30th, 2026 at 6:17 pm
If the players get around 45% of total revenue, that means each team in the nfl nets (before sharing with players) around $670 MILLION DOLLARS lol
The nfl in total making around $24 BILLION dollars annually
If that’s accurate, it’s insane
January 30th, 2026 at 6:34 pm
Better get Crosby
January 30th, 2026 at 6:39 pm
Imagine Bowles telling Maxx Crosby he’ll be dropping into coverage a third of the time. Would love to see that conversation..
January 30th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
T-Krass might’ve decided to just go ahead and include last season’s WASTED $$$$ on him LoL. Could see it coming from a mile away. It was STUPID. Just REAL DUMB. And, Reckless with your boss’s $$$$. There’s NO EXCUSE for it. That was $35-MILLION on him and Reddick. And, I thought JL was all about this “culture” BS and his “choir boys.” LoL BS. Reddick barely played that last season, before coming to the Bucs… Barely recorded a SACK, and he caused just ALL KINDS of trouble. Had MAJOR drama going on ‘off-the-field’ with a former business partner being threatened, and screwed out of money, & etc. Had charges filed against him and was supposedly being sued.
So, it’s ALL nothing but a BUNCHA BS. Like I’ve said, it’s an EXCUSE. An excuse for a GM who doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing. An excuse for NOT making moves in the draft, or in free agency, & etc. But, hell, I’d be afraid of trying to make any moves too, given the kind of draft history that HE HAS. Especially, in the very beginning of his career. And the last 5-drafts haven’t been any better. ZERO Pro-Bowlers. Then, he tries convincing everyone else, that HIS Players are so great. BS. It’s lazy and weak. All “Smoke & Mirrors,” in that weak ass division.
January 30th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
I like the way someone put it simply: a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow. It explains all the deferred payments, as well as many other things.
January 30th, 2026 at 7:17 pm
Elite pass rushers are not typically used in that way, but even Crosby did drop back into coverage on about 2% of pass plays this past season (according to PFF).
Bowles isn’t the only defensive coach who does this. Reddick was used this way even when he was an excellent pass rusher (with the Eagles).
It’s not a bad tactic. Play-callers will sacrifice a pass-rusher for coverage to free up another rusher and disguise coverage versus blitz.
Bowles just needs to simplify his defense scheme; he doesn’t have the talent in place now to run it effectively. I’m probably in the minority, but I believe he will make some adjustments to better fit the personnel he’s got on defense.
He’s got to know his seat is so hot, and if he doesn’t show a significant improvement he’s going to get launched.
January 30th, 2026 at 7:19 pm
^^^^^^^I meant to be replying to @Grizzards 3&Out
January 30th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Good cut the injury prone players and get some defensive guys.
January 30th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Right…
The salary cap doesn’t matter.
Too bad the Bucs have been in salary cap he11 for the past 5 seasons.
LOL!!!
What are you talking about?
When the cap goes up so do all of the salaries of the players.
Teams that don’t properly manage the cap get hosed and are forced to count on draft picks and UDFAs every season to fill the gaps.
Sound familiar Joe?
January 30th, 2026 at 8:03 pm
Grizzards 3&Out Says:
January 30th, 2026 at 6:39 pm
Imagine Bowles telling Maxx Crosby he’ll be dropping into coverage a third of the time. Would love to see that conversation..
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*half
January 30th, 2026 at 8:42 pm
They need a lot more than just one pass rusher who will eat most that up
January 30th, 2026 at 8:43 pm
Need more than a veteran they need a difference maker on the edge.
January 30th, 2026 at 8:49 pm
Edge rusher has to want to come here.
January 30th, 2026 at 11:02 pm
We’re 16 million under the cap including Mike’s previous salary right? Which was like 20 million dollars. So we pay him that again and break even. We should pay him that until he retires. If he wants a 3 year deal okay just don’t guarantee all of it please? A linebacker in free agency might be more cost friendly then draft an edge and DT.
January 30th, 2026 at 11:31 pm
It’s cool when a pic of the head coach is at the top of the page of the article.
January 30th, 2026 at 11:44 pm
Yes, go get a veteran, stud edge rusher. Todd Bowles is a proven defensive mastermind who knows how to use pass rushers effectively and develops them to be even better than they ever thought they could be. His results prove this.