A report on Thursday stated that NFL owners were pushing to lower the salary cap for 2020 and 2021. The move was being proposed to offset any potential losses that may come from the absence of fans within stadiums. Instead, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) has been pushing for the impact of any revenue losses to be spread through 2030.
With many NFL rosters pretty set, a cap reduction this late in the offseason would have significantly impacted some teams. It doesn't sound like that will happen. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network is reporting that there will be no change to the 2020 salary-cap figure of $198.2 million.
The impact of lost revenue will instead be spread out over the next four years, with next year's figure potentially dropping to at least $175 million, per Pelissero.
The proposal being discussed by the NFL and NFLPA would spread the impact of any revenue shortfall in 2020 over four years, with a 2021 salary cap of at least $175 million, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. No change to the 2020 cap despite owners' proposals.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 24, 2020
That could still be significant for the San Francisco 49ers, who have several key players entering the final year of their deals. Names like tight end George Kittle, offensive tackle Trent Williams, cornerback Richard Sherman, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk are some of the more notable ones.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, pass rusher Dee Ford, and linebacker Kwon Alexander are set to be next year's biggest salary cap hits with a combined $61 million tied up between the three players, according to Spotrac.
As it stands right now, the 49ers currently have over $173 million in 2021 liabilities, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic, which would push the team up against a potential $175 million salary cap. Although, it isn't necessarily a figure with which San Francisco could not work.
49ers currently have over $173 million in 2021 liabilities, so they'd be right up against a $175 million minimum salary cap for next season. But they would be in a workable spot, since there are potential savings around roster in 2021 and some amount of restructuring would be OK https://t.co/71eAf3KakD
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) July 24, 2020
Most expected the salary cap to see a significant increase next season thanks to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the anticipation of new television deals. The current pandemic changed all of that. The league is trying to push forward with the 2020 season while keeping COVID-19 from wreak havoc on its plans.
Another reality is that restructuring contracts isn't sustainable business. Doing so creates weighty, inescapable cap hits in subsequent seasons so it's a strategy best used sparingly. The 49ers are going to have be deft moving forward financially
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) July 24, 2020