Two weeks before the onset of free agency, the Washington Commanders lead the NFL with an impressive $96.4 million in salary-cap space, contrasting sharply with the Buffalo Bills, navigating challenging financial waters and facing tough personnel decisions. Both the Bills and the Saints benefit from a substantial increase of over $30 million per team from the 2023 cap limit, recently confirmed at $255.4 million per team for 2024 by the NFL. The salary cap calculation considers the top 51 player contracts on the 53-man roster. Spotrac projects the Commanders to dominate with $96,443,548 million in cap space, but Washington’s situation is nuanced, having only 44 players under contract and owing around $35 million guaranteed on a four-year deal to the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft. The New England Patriots closely trail with $86 million and a full roster of 53 players, coupled with a substantial draft pick pool, including the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft. Other notable teams in the top six for available cap space include the Titans, Bears, Colts, and Bengals. On the contrary, the New Orleans Saints, once burdened with a staggering $321 million committed to the 2024 roster, received some relief with updated cap figures. Buffalo, at $43.7 million over, and the Saints, grappling with a $42 million excess, are actively working to address their financial challenges. The Miami Dolphins find themselves $24.6 million in the red, while the LA Chargers, despite having positive available money, face a significant setback due to an NFL-worst $24.5 million in “dead cap.” The comprehensive rundown of available salary cap space as of February 23, according to Spotrac, showcases the varying financial landscapes of NFL teams.
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