NFL Teams Face Over $300 Million Combined Dead Cap Hits for 2025 Season

The NFL offseason is marked by complex salary cap maneuvers, with teams like the Cleveland Browns using creative contract restructures and upfront spending to build competitive rosters despite significant dead cap hits planned for future seasons. The Browns currently carry a large dead cap burden, including from players like Amari Cooper and Zadarius Smith, but their approach leverages the expected rise in the salary cap to manage costs over time. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers have nearly $18.7 million in cap space going into June, after making moves such as releasing Jadeveon Clowney, and still face the task of signing key draft picks amid shifting market trends. Other teams, like the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, also face large dead money charges in 2025 due to offseason releases, with the 49ers carrying the highest at $84.6 million. Big-name players such as Jalen Ramsey and Kirk Cousins remain potential trade candidates, with teams waiting for post-June 1 to maximize salary cap savings. The rising salary cap has led to record-setting contracts, especially for quarterbacks, with stars like Justin Herbert and Maxx Crosby commanding some of the largest cap hits for the 2025 season, reflecting their value and the increasing financial stakes in the NFL.