Archer: A look at the Cowboys cap situation for 2025

[Risen Star]

Some notes:

- Some projections expect the 2025 salary cap to be approximately $275 million. Teams aren't planning for the $30 million jump it took in 2024, but it will still go up. According to Roster Management System, the Cowboys have 40 players signed for 2025 at a cost of $263 million.

- Prescott has a 2025 cap number of $89.89 million via the four-year extension he signed in September that made him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. The Cowboys will restructure that deal and gain about $36 million in cap room.

- Lamb has a cap number of $35.45 million for next season on the extension he signed in August, which made him the second-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. The Cowboys will restructure that deal and gain about $20 million in cap space.

- That $56 million or so is a huge boost, and it would be more money if they extend Parsons. He is set to count $21.4 million on his fifth-year option, but a multiyear extension would lower that figure. But last offseason, the Cowboys did not sign Lamb until August and Prescott until September, so it's difficult to imagine the Cowboys will get a Parsons deal done by the time free agency opens in the middle of March.

- The season-ending knee injury sustained by cornerback Trevon Diggs negates the possibility of him being released in the offseason. His 2025 base salary of $9 million was guaranteed for injury at the time of signing in 2023. If he had not been injured, the Cowboys had until the fifth day of the 2025 league year, when the money would have been fully guaranteed, to release him and gain as much as $10 million in cap space.

- Right tackle Terence Steele is set to count $18.125 million against the cap next season. If the Cowboys designate him a post-June 1 release, they would save $14 million, but he would count about $6.4 million against the cap in 2026.

- Cornerback DaRon Bland will see his salary increase from $1.1 million to the cost of the second-round restricted free agent tender, which projects to be about $5.2 million, because he was selected to one Pro Bowl. Tight end Jake Ferguson will not get the same Pro Bowl boost because he was not on the initial roster in 2023, but his base salary will jump from $1.1 million to the right-of-first-refusal tender, which projects to be about $3.2 million. Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert will also have a base salary of $3.2 million, a jump of $1.8 million on his initial deal.

- The Cowboys have two players set to become restricted free agents in receiver KaVontae Turpin and safety Markquese Bell. Turpin is likely to earn a Pro Bowl bid for the second time in three seasons. Since he was undrafted, the Cowboys would have to put the second-round tender on him ($5.2 million) or risk losing him for nothing if another team signs him to an offer sheet. The Cowboys could pass on tendering Bell and attempt to re-sign him to a lower deal.

- But it will remain true that if the Cowboys want to be active in free agency -- if not at the top of the market -- they can be. So the major question of their approach to the 2025 offseason is: Will they?

 

[Hawkeye0202]

What does the Cowboys' 2025 salary cap really look like?​

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...y-cap-free-agency-micah-parsons-stephen-jones


Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
Dec 19, 2024, 06:00 AM ET

FRISCO, Texas -- When Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones spoke about the 2025 salary cap last week at the NFL's winter meetings at the Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas, fans were sent into a panic.

"I think we knew we were going to have a challenge this year and next year," Jones said. "That [the salary cap] was going to be really tight. Because we still have some money left over from some guys who aren't here today, and you're going to have some other guys that won't be here in the future that you still got a cap count [on]."

For fans, the fear is that 2025 free agency will be approached the same way as last offseason, when the Cowboys opted against adding key players to a roster in need of help.

 

[nate dizzle]

*Laughs in Cap Boy*

 

[Risen Star]

Anybody okay with Steele accounting for 18 million next year?

How about tendering Turpin for 5.2 million?

Heck no to the first and heck yeah to the 2nd. I'm not sure that tender even keeps him.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Will they???

Great question.

 

[big dog cowboy]

We've all seen how easily the Cowboys can create $100M if they want to.

I don't expect that to happen. It's easier for the Jones clan to just lie to the fans.

 

[thunderpimp91]

The Cowboys will open up some space, but I'd bet the heavy majority of that space goes to giving guys raises that are already on the roster. OSA, Hoffman, Golston, Turpin, Lewis, Kendricks, Dowdle are all realistic candidate to be brought back with significant raises. The Cowboys also don't currently have some necessities like backup QB, Punter, or Long snapper under contract that probably eats $10M or so instantly.

I'm not getting my hopes up of a big offseason acquisition. I think if we are lucky and Jerry feels enough pressure we could see an aging vet on a smaller deal like a Stephon Diggs to fill the WR2 role....maybe a 2yr/$40M type of deal with a reasonable out after year 1? I think its possible we might be looking more at the trade market like they did with Cooks a couple years ago instead of giving up the comp pick though as they could be set up for a high comp pick or two.

 

[maryquality]

We've all seen how easily the Cowboys can create $100M if they want to.

I don't expect that to happen. It's easier for the Jones clan to just lie to the fans.

Yeah...they'll just spew out the same mumbo jumbo about not having any money, blah blah blah

 

[Bobhaze]

Some notes:

- Some projections expect the 2025 salary cap to be approximately $275 million. Teams aren't planning for the $30 million jump it took in 2024, but it will still go up. According to Roster Management System, the Cowboys have 40 players signed for 2025 at a cost of $263 million.

- Prescott has a 2025 cap number of $89.89 million via the four-year extension he signed in September that made him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. The Cowboys will restructure that deal and gain about $36 million in cap room.

- Lamb has a cap number of $35.45 million for next season on the extension he signed in August, which made him the second-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. The Cowboys will restructure that deal and gain about $20 million in cap space.

- That $56 million or so is a huge boost, and it would be more money if they extend Parsons. He is set to count $21.4 million on his fifth-year option, but a multiyear extension would lower that figure. But last offseason, the Cowboys did not sign Lamb until August and Prescott until September, so it's difficult to imagine the Cowboys will get a Parsons deal done by the time free agency opens in the middle of March.

- The season-ending knee injury sustained by cornerback Trevon Diggs negates the possibility of him being released in the offseason. His 2025 base salary of $9 million was guaranteed for injury at the time of signing in 2023. If he had not been injured, the Cowboys had until the fifth day of the 2025 league year, when the money would have been fully guaranteed, to release him and gain as much as $10 million in cap space.

- Right tackle Terence Steele is set to count $18.125 million against the cap next season. If the Cowboys designate him a post-June 1 release, they would save $14 million, but he would count about $6.4 million against the cap in 2026.

- Cornerback DaRon Bland will see his salary increase from $1.1 million to the cost of the second-round restricted free agent tender, which projects to be about $5.2 million, because he was selected to one Pro Bowl. Tight end Jake Ferguson will not get the same Pro Bowl boost because he was not on the initial roster in 2023, but his base salary will jump from $1.1 million to the right-of-first-refusal tender, which projects to be about $3.2 million. Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert will also have a base salary of $3.2 million, a jump of $1.8 million on his initial deal.

- The Cowboys have two players set to become restricted free agents in receiver KaVontae Turpin and safety Markquese Bell. Turpin is likely to earn a Pro Bowl bid for the second time in three seasons. Since he was undrafted, the Cowboys would have to put the second-round tender on him ($5.2 million) or risk losing him for nothing if another team signs him to an offer sheet. The Cowboys could pass on tendering Bell and attempt to re-sign him to a lower deal.

- But it will remain true that if the Cowboys want to be active in free agency -- if not at the top of the market -- they can be. So the major question of their approach to the 2025 offseason is: Will they?

Quick answer to last question, “Will the Cowboys be active in free agency?” No because they literally do not know how to manage the cap in a way to build a great roster. They have never done it in the cap era.

 

[maryquality]

Quick answer to last question, “Will the Cowboys be active in free agency?” No because they literally do not know how to manage the cap in a way to build a great roster. They have never done it in the cap era.

It really is a shame how they can't figure it out!! It doesn't take a rocket scientist!! smdh

 

[rambo2]

We've all seen how easily the Cowboys can create $100M if they want to.

I don't expect that to happen. It's easier for the Jones clan to just lie to the fans.

Archer is telling us that they should get close to the 100 million.

 

[Bobhaze]

It really is a shame how they can't figure it out!! It doesn't take a rocket scientist!! smdh

It is a shame. That’s what arrogance does to people who have no desire to humble themselves to learn or to get help. True learning requires humility...a quality that is non-existent with the Jones cartel.

Archer is telling us that they should get close to the 100 million.

What good is it if they don’t know what to do with it?

 

[JayFord]

Does Stephen know this? Because I’m sure he thinks we only have $2.87 in cap space

 

[JBS]

Taking a look at our cap situation is a completely worthless exercise

Doesn’t matter what the situation is. Money won’t be spent. So what good does it do to analyze the situation?

 

[rambo2]

It really is a shame how they can't figure it out!! It doesn't take a rocket scientist!! smdh

Who can’t figure out? They have it figured out. They chose to shoot the bull.

 

[Risen Star]

If they really want an aggressive all in offseason they will get Parsons extended before free agency.

No chance.

 

[rambo2]

Taking a look at our cap situation is a completely worthless exercise

Doesn’t matter what the situation is. Money won’t be spent. So what good does it do to analyze the situation?

Why wouldn't money be spent? Don't they have to spend money to fill out the roster?

 

[Risen Star]

Taking a look at our cap situation is a completely worthless exercise

Doesn’t matter what the situation is. Money won’t be spent. So what good does it do to analyze the situation?

I never do this to your threads.

 

[Bobhaze]

Why wouldn't money be spent? Don't they have to spend money to fill out the roster?

They have to spend the required amount. That doesn’t mean they have to spend ALL their space.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Some notes:

- Some projections expect the 2025 salary cap to be approximately $275 million. Teams aren't planning for the $30 million jump it took in 2024, but it will still go up. According to Roster Management System, the Cowboys have 40 players signed for 2025 at a cost of $263 million.

- Prescott has a 2025 cap number of $89.89 million via the four-year extension he signed in September that made him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. The Cowboys will restructure that deal and gain about $36 million in cap room.

- Lamb has a cap number of $35.45 million for next season on the extension he signed in August, which made him the second-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. The Cowboys will restructure that deal and gain about $20 million in cap space.

- That $56 million or so is a huge boost, and it would be more money if they extend Parsons. He is set to count $21.4 million on his fifth-year option, but a multiyear extension would lower that figure. But last offseason, the Cowboys did not sign Lamb until August and Prescott until September, so it's difficult to imagine the Cowboys will get a Parsons deal done by the time free agency opens in the middle of March.

- The season-ending knee injury sustained by cornerback Trevon Diggs negates the possibility of him being released in the offseason. His 2025 base salary of $9 million was guaranteed for injury at the time of signing in 2023. If he had not been injured, the Cowboys had until the fifth day of the 2025 league year, when the money would have been fully guaranteed, to release him and gain as much as $10 million in cap space.

- Right tackle Terence Steele is set to count $18.125 million against the cap next season. If the Cowboys designate him a post-June 1 release, they would save $14 million, but he would count about $6.4 million against the cap in 2026.

- Cornerback DaRon Bland will see his salary increase from $1.1 million to the cost of the second-round restricted free agent tender, which projects to be about $5.2 million, because he was selected to one Pro Bowl. Tight end Jake Ferguson will not get the same Pro Bowl boost because he was not on the initial roster in 2023, but his base salary will jump from $1.1 million to the right-of-first-refusal tender, which projects to be about $3.2 million. Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert will also have a base salary of $3.2 million, a jump of $1.8 million on his initial deal.

- The Cowboys have two players set to become restricted free agents in receiver KaVontae Turpin and safety Markquese Bell. Turpin is likely to earn a Pro Bowl bid for the second time in three seasons. Since he was undrafted, the Cowboys would have to put the second-round tender on him ($5.2 million) or risk losing him for nothing if another team signs him to an offer sheet. The Cowboys could pass on tendering Bell and attempt to re-sign him to a lower deal.

- But it will remain true that if the Cowboys want to be active in free agency -- if not at the top of the market -- they can be. So the major question of their approach to the 2025 offseason is: Will they?

great summary. so this kind of lays it, salary cap and salaries aren't an issue. if we have 43 players under contract for total of 263M, we are in great shape to not even make a change and sign 10 players and still be under the cap.

I like the idea of cutting steele. although I doubt, because Jerry doesn't like to let players go early and pay twice for the same position. he hates that type of dead cap, so the incompetence at RT will most probably continue.

and couple of moves and we should have around 65M on the cap as I have heard some say. this should allow us to sign 2, 3 premium FAs, but will we? probably not. even not doing Dak's contract redo and just going with the 90M on the cap, we can still have about 30M on the cap which should allow us to sign a couple of premium FAs.

so no excuses, but I am sure Jerry has more excuses in his pocket he is going to throw out there.