The projected increase represents a substantial jump from the 2025 salary cap of $279.2 million. Pelissero noted that the cap has risen by nearly $100 million since 2022, thanks to the league's continued revenue growth.
Below is a 10-year overview of the NFL salary cap, including the projected range for 2026. The lone decrease during this period came between 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic:
- 2017: $167.0 million
- 2018: $177.2 million
- 2019: $188.2 million
- 2020: $198.2 million
- 2021: $182.5 million
- 2022: $208.2 million
- 2023: $224.8 million
- 2024: $255.4 million
- 2025: $279.2 million
- 2026: $301.2 million to $305.7 million
The NFL's new league year officially begins on March 11, which also marks the start of free agency.
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