Because of the global pandemic that resulted in very little fan attendance at NFL games in 2020, it was known before the season that the league would lose a significant amount of revenue, which would result in a decreased salary cap in 2021.
The league and the players association agreed that there would be a salary cap floor of $175 million, attempting to spread the financial impact of the pandemic over multiple years.
The NFLPA pushed for not negatively affecting the players all now for something that isn’t their fault.
There is moderately good news. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, while the league has not set next the cap yet for next season, it has informed teams a higher floor than previously negotiated. The cap will not be less than $180 million.
NFL informed teams today the salary cap this season will be a minimum of $180 million.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 18, 2021
That number is already what many salary cap websites have been using to calculate cap space. But the fact that $180 million will be the lowest it goes gives hope that it will be even higher.
The cap in 2020 was $198.2 million. Even at $180 million, it is a decrease of more than $18 million after the cap had increased by more than $10 million each of the last several years.
Even at $180 million, 12 teams are estimated to be over the cap before free agency even begins next month.
At $180 million, the Arizona Cardinals have an estimated $12.8 million in cap space to work with.
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