The NFL salary cap is on the rise again for the 2024 season. The league announced on Friday that the salary cap will be $255.4 million per club in 2024.
This marks a $30-plus million rise over last season's cap, which totaled $224.8 million.
Per the NFL, there will be an additional $74 million per club payment for player benefits, which includes performance-based pay and benefits for retired players.
Total 2024 player costs will be $329.4 million per team.
It's official.
The NFL has notified teams that the 2024 salary cap will be set at a robust number: $255.4 million. #bigbag
Science to come shortly on where the #Cowboys now stand as they head into free agency.
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) February 23, 2024
Good News for the Dallas Cowboys
Over the Cap has the Cowboys at roughly $8 million over the limit, meaning they would need to make room via cuts, and other things to get below the cap line.
With a new contract on the way for Dak Prescott, this makes things easier and won't keep as many people holding their breath.
With the projected cap limit to increase to over $250 million, it allows Dallas more room to operate.
Let me make this very clear for everyone who hates Prescott and thinks the team can sign Ryan Tannehill and be better off.
If they extend Dak it will lower his $61 million cap hit in 2024.
I wouldn't be surprised if they clear close to $20 million in space with his contract.
NFL salary cap by year in the revenue-sharing era:
2011: $120.375M
2012: $120.6M
2013: $123M
2014: $133M
2015: $143.28M
2016: $155.27M
2017: $167M
2018: $177.2M
2019: $188.2M
2020: $198.2M
2021: $182.5M*
2022: $208.2M
2023: $224.8M
2024: $255.4MBusiness is booming.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 23, 2024
Let's not forget that the Cowboys also have nearly 15 million in dead money because Ezekiel Elliott is no longer on the roster.
The $30 million-plus increase probably came from sports betting, no joke.
They are partners with dang near everyone, and I'm sure they took your money as they did mine multiple times.
Having an extra game helps too.
CeeDee Lamb & Micah Parsons
The contract Prescott is about to sign will still bother the process of getting deals done for CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, but with the salary cap increase, they are only expected to be over by 8 instead of 18 million.
Parsons became eligible to start new contract negotiations and with the pace he is on, could be on track to be the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
And here are the fifth-year option numbers for 2021 first-round picks — a list including Trevor Lawrence, Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, Penei Sewell, Pat Surtain II, DeVonta Smith, Justin Fields and Micah Parsons, among others.
Teams have until May 2 to exercise the options. pic.twitter.com/DHbJUB5sQQ
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 23, 2024
The increase will help the Cowboys when it comes to Lamb, he is entering the final year of his deal.
The team does not have to extend him this offseason, but with the new increase, it might ramp up the talks.
#Cowboys CeeDee Lamb on his next contract: "I want to be one of the top-paid WRs if not the top" per @TheAthletic https://t.co/CoYO7YbDA1 pic.twitter.com/bNvBDoGbwL
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 11, 2024
Lamb's time is coming, but for right now, they don't have to work on a new deal at all.
Other Lingering Thoughts
This week, Tyron Smith said he had no plans on retiring and wanted to return to Dallas for another season.
Stephon Gilmore, Johnathan Hankins, and others will be free agents in 2024.
Not only did it allow the Cowboys room to try and bring some of these players back, but it did the same for other teams.
I want Gilmore and Hankins back next season.
Gilly stepped into a larger role than anticipated at this point in his career when Trevon Diggs tore his ACL and did better than anyone expected.
Cowboys CB Stephon Gilmore on @dfwticket on wanting to return to Dallas in free agency: “I want to come back. We can't talk until March. But that's the goal, because I think we do have the pieces to get to where we want to go, and I want to be part of that.”
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 9, 2024
If they can make it work with the increase, I wouldn't mind them trying to bring back Jourdan Lewis and Dorance Armstrong also, but I let Tony Pollard, Dante Fowler, and Tyler Biasasz walk.
A decent to above-average center is hard to find, so someone could probably talk me into bringing Biasasz back, but he just hasn't been the player I thought he would be.
We will soon find out what the Cowboys have in store this offseason, but free agency is still a few weeks away, and the draft is over a month away.
I am going to continue to mention what Jerry Jones said about a month ago about going “all-in,” in nearly every post I make.
The NFL just helped you by increasing the cap and giving you more room to make things work.
I am tired of writing about ways to make the team better, it's about time you do your job and either hire a real GM or make a splash this offseason and stay true to your word.
