Washington has the third-most cap space in the NFL
The NFL sets their salary cap every year after the season and before the new league year. It had been steadily rising by $10-12 million since 2013. A new CBA was signed in 2012 after a lockout, and TV deals pumped a ton of money into the league’s coffers which allowed the pot to grow for players. That changed four years ago as the NFL looked to spread out some of the losses from the last three years. The cap dropped $15.7 million from 2020 to 2021, but it bounced back three years ago, and has been growing bigger every year since. The NFL sent a memo to teams today saying the salary cap will fall in the range of $277.5-281.5 million for the 2015 season.
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 Washington Commanders currently have $82.2 million available according to Over the Cap, but that is based on their $279.5 million cap projection. Washington currently has the third-most cap space in the NFL, based on current numbers.
Washington is coming off their best season since 1991, improving from 4-13 under Ron Rivera, to 12-5 under new GM Adam Peters and HC Dan Quinn. This turnaround started in 2023 when Josh Harris bought the team, and the entire fanbase cheered as former owner Dan Snyder sailed away to Europe. Peters and Quinn overhauled the roster, bringing in a lot of vets on 1-year deals via free agency, before taking former LSU QB Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick.
The Commanders’ season ended with a loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game. That loss is driving Daniels, Peters, Quinn, Harris, and everyone in the organization to improve, and take the next steps towards a championship.
Free agency officially starts on March 12, with the legal tempering window opening two days before that. Washington will need to make decisions on their own large list of pending free agents, and also the players they are trying to add to the team for season two of their roster recalibration.
The Commanders have the 29th pick in the this year’s draft, and seven picks total after several trades. Washington will look to free agency, and possibly more trades, to fill their old and new needs after a surprisingly good season. Adam Peters and crew will then look at the draft to restock the roster with more young, cheap talent.
Salary Cap by year:
2025: $277.5-281.5 million
2024: $255.4 million
2023: $224.8 million
2022: $208.2 million
2021: $182.5 million
2020: $198.2 million
2019: $188.2 million
2018: $177.2 million
2017: $167 million
2016: $155.27 million
2015: $143.28 million
2014: $133 million
2013: $123 million
2012: $120.6 million