Archer: A look at the Cowboys cap situation for 2025

[PAPPYDOG]

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?

- Prescott has a 2025 cap number of $89.89 million

 

[rambo2]

- Prescott has a 2025 cap number of $89.89 million

You left out the restructure that Archer says they will do. No Jones bs.

 

[Coogiguy03]

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.

kills me that they call it tender, more of medium well kind of guy myself lol

 

[Coogiguy03]

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.

the first paragraph says it ALLLLLLLL!!!!!

 

[Coogiguy03]

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?

Because it gives people something to talk about, the Cowboys make money, but they don't like spending money, i'm confused!!!

 

[PAPPYDOG]

You left out the restructure that Archer says they will do. No Jones bs.

No matter how you dress a "Pig", its still a Pig!!!!

 

[ICP]

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.

Their priority will be Parsons and we can't forget that Dowdle has put up three 100+ yard games in a row so I'm sure they will resign him as one of the highest paid RB's in the league

 

[PAPPYDOG]

Dear Santa can I have one of these for Xmas...........................he can even have a 100 million salary no problem.....

 

[NDGAEDE]

I can't see Steele coming back at that number.

 

[JBS]

I never do this to your threads.

Facts. My apologies, sir. Never again. My word.

 

[Risen Star]

I can't see Steele coming back at that number.

Hold our beer.

 

[Risen Star]

Facts. My apologies, sir. Never again. My word.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

- Prescott has a 2025 cap number of $89.89 million

and the cowboys still have cap space....WOW, aren't the capalogists on this board embarassed with their doom and gloom scenarios!!!

and if you actually read the article, cowboys could have 65M on the cap with 2 simple moves.

this is so embarassing for you. I assume the gif is you jumping off the building.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

No matter how you dress a "Pig", its still a Pig!!!!

is that a selfie?

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Dear Santa can I have one of these for Xmas...........................he can even have a 100 million salary no problem.....

was there a point to this?

or is it pointless comments from you as usual?

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Now, divide that cap space between the number of positions that require fa upgrade or contract extensions and then what have you got?

 

[maryquality]

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

Well, that just makes it worse!!

 

[JayFord]

Hold our beer.

They remind me of an old GM I had when I worked in a restaurant who I actually liked but the man was cheap

If it was busy he didn’t care it was all about cost, you only need 3 cooks and 1 dishwasher and he would dig through trash religiously to make sure no plates or silverware was in there because he didn’t want to come anywhere near spending over 20% of the budget

That’s them….they’d roll with Dak and a bunch of UFL players and undrafted free agents

 

[JBS]

Lololol

 

[thunderpimp91]

I can't see Steele coming back at that number.

Probably depends on if they want to move Tyler Smith out to Tackle or not. If not it just creates another FA need, and the cap savings would be more than gone for even a low end starting T on the open market.