NFL salary cap rising to at least $277.5M

The 2025 NFL salary cap will surge to an estimated $277.5 million per team--a significant boost from the 2024 season.

Feb 20, 2025, 7:02 AM

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 26: Footballs on the field before the NFL game between the Las Vegas ...

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The 2025 NFL salary cap will surge to an estimated $277.5 million per team and could climb as high as $281.5 million, up at least $22 million from last season.

The new cap marks an increase of more than $53 million over the past two years.

The NFL sent a memo to teams on Wednesday outlining the new range, explaining the reason why it’s not yet finalized.

The NFL informed teams today that the 2025 salary cap will be roughly $277.5M-$281.5M, per @DanGrazianoESPN.

That’s an increase of $22.1M-$26.1M from last year — and beats what most executives were anticipating. 📈📈 pic.twitter.com/gnqFiBvGlH

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 19, 2025

More on the NFL salary cap

“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,” the memo read. “We expect to conclude negotiations over the 2025 Player Cost and Salary Cap amount next week.”

The league added, “Keep in mind that this range is subject to change based on further negotiations with the NFL Players Association.”

Franchise tag salaries cannot be set until a number is finalized by the league.

Clubs have until the start of the new league year — March 12 at 4 p.m. — to get under the NFL salary cap.

The cap has risen annually since 2011, except for 2021, as the league prioritized recovery from the pandemic, including loss of live attendance gate and concessions profits.

In 2011, the cap was $120.37 million. It crossed the $200 million barrier in 2022 at $208.2 million.

–Field Level Media

More NFL coverage from Sactown Sports

The San Francisco 49ers released linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles on Tuesday after five seasons with the team.

Flannigan-Fowles, 28, was a big contributor on special teams who also started three of 12 games he played in 2024. He had one interception and 17 tackles, with one tackle for loss.

After signing with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent and then getting released before the 2019 season, Flannigan-Fowles later was signed to the practice squad. He made his debut in the 2020 season as a defensive back and later moved to linebacker. He totaled 96 tackles, one sack, six tackles for loss and one interception in 73 regular-season games (seven starts).