As NFL teams prepare for the scouting combine, and the rest of the offseason activities, the New Orleans Saints have been preparing for their favorite offseason activity: getting under the salary cap. Like most recent offseasons, the Saints have the worst cap situation in the league, and are projected to be significantly over the cap.
On Wednesday, however, New Orleans got a surprise gift from the NFL. The league informed teams that the 2025 salary cap will be between $277.5 million and $281.5 million. While the official number isn’t set yet, this increase is bigger than expected, and provides some relief to teams over the cap like the Saints.
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
NFL informs teams of 2025 salary cap range
Most models projected a $272.5 million salary cap, and with that projection, New Orleans would’ve been nearly $55 million over the cap. With the news that the salary cap will actually be five to 10 million dollars higher, the Saints could end up being around just 40-50 million above the cap. While that’s still a lot, it’s a big difference, and one less move the team has to make.
Every team benefits from the salary cap going up more than initially projected, but for the Saints it creates more avenues to clear the now roughly $40-45M cap overage
— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) February 19, 2025
Biggest question remains Derek Carr, but moving on this offseason just got a bit easier (at least financially).
Still, the Saints will have a lot of work on their hands this offseason, and it’s unclear how exactly they will get under the cap. Of course, New Orleans will restructure a few contracts, but that alone won’t get it done. Additionally, the team probably won’t be able to utilize the method of extending contracts, because most of the high-paid players on the team are near the end of their contracts, and careers, so the franchise won’t be tacking on more years.
Ultimately, New Orleans will probably end up saying goodbye to some established veterans with hefty cap hits. Guys like Cam Jordan and Derek Carr have already been brought up as possible options, but with the Saints entering a new era, no one is safe. Before it’s time to make those cuts, though, New Orleans can rejoice that the league is giving the team more space to work with.