The Steelers are in even better shape with the 2025 salary cap
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in unprecedented territory. Although this statement could be in regards to the Steelers not having a viable quarterback option on their roster, I’m speaking about them having an unprecedented amount of salary cap space going into the 2025 league year. While it was estimated that the Steelers had more than $50 million in cap space, there are still some numbers that aren’t exactly known in order to give a better figure.
On Wednesday, even though the exact amount still was not given, it was reported by ESPN’s Dan Graziano that NFL teams have been informed the 2025 salary cap will be between $277.5 million and $281.5 million.
The NFL today informed teams that the 2025 per-team salary cap will fall in the range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million, way up from last year's $255.4 million. Cap will have increased by more than $53 million over the last two years.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 19, 2025
So where does this number actually fall? Before this report, the previously estimated salary cap space by some of the best cap websites such as overthecap.com (OTC) and spotrac.com had the amount at $272.5 million. So with an increase of anywhere between $5 million and $9 million more than what had been previously estimated, the Steelers are set to have even more to spend for 2025.
As I stated earlier this week when I gave the report that the Steelers have the lowest amount of dead money going into 2025 at this time, I am not prepared to give my exact salary cap figure because some of the exact values are not known. Even though it has been narrowed down to a specific range, we still don’t know the exact salary cap for 2025. Another key factor, the amount of rollover from 2024, has not been reported either, but according to the NFLPA website the Steelers had over $6.8 million left in salary cap space at the end of last season. Once these exact values are known, I will give my first official salary cap report.
With a new estimate of the 2025 salary cap coming in, I will at least give an estimate as to where I have the Steelers salary cap for 2025. Giving the same range the teams were given, I have the Steelers between $58 million and $62 million at this time as they prepare for the 2025 season.
With the Steelers having an unprecedented amount of salary cap space, the question isn’t if they are going to spend money but more how they will allocate the funds. Having the opportunity to sign significant pieces is a very big deal, but the more important thing is to find the right pieces they will need for 2025 and beyond.
Unfortunately, given the lack of desirable free agents out there this year, this really isn’t a great year to have a ton of cap space.
Carry a bunch more than usual?
I see the logic. It’s not like they are winning anything meaningful in 2025 regardless.
There are several top CB options and the Steelers have a need there. So there is that. Plus teams still could cut significant players before the start of the new league year as cap casualties. QB is really the only one not expected to be great.
Is there a minimum relative to the cap that teams need to spend? Is there a maximum on how much unused cap can be carried over to the next year, or is it all unused is carried over?
It’s 89% of the cap over a four year period. A team could have a huge rollover one year and it’s fine as long as they spend it in the next 3 years.
Sometimes it spends itself. The Browns are a good example as they finished 2024 with over $40 million in cap space but are currently around $25 million over the cap even with that rollover.
Thanks Dave.
Considering the years the Steelers spent in Salary Cap Purgatory in recent years I will take this all day long. There are plenty of good free agents out there, they might not be at the flashiest positions, but if the Steelers go that rout with FA’s they can address the other needs in the draft and everything balances out nicely.
I have the Stepbrothers scene in my head right now saying “so much room for activities” and it’s a good place to be.