The NFL and NFLPA agreed to "raise the salary cap by as much as" 14%, to a maximum of $208.2M, for the '22 season, according to a source cited by Ken Belson of the N.Y. TIMES. This is a sign that the league is "quickly rebounding from the financial havoc caused by the coronavirus pandemic last season." NFL revenue appears "likely to rebound more quickly than anticipated, for several reasons." In the coming season, the league "will add a 17th regular season game, which will generate more ticket revenue for teams." Belson notes "nearly all of the 32 teams have announced plans to host full-capacity crowds at their games this fall." The league also plans to return to playing several games outside the U.S. in '21, after canceling all international travel last season. The NFL also "expects more income from its new media contracts" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/27). NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo said the salary cap announcement is “another sign that we are slowly creeping our way back to normal" (“NFL Total Access,” NFL Network, 5/26).
NOT SO FAST: ESPN.com's Dan Graziano noted this "doesn't mean" the '22 salary cap will be $208.2M -- just that that is the "highest it can possibly be." It is still possible that the league's '22 revenue projections and/or '21 revenue shortfalls "could result in a lower cap." But if the revenue-based '22 calculations call for a cap higher than $208.2M, then any excess revenue "will be used to pay back the roughly $17 million in 2020 player benefits that were canceled as a result of the pandemic." The '21 salary cap is "already set" at $182.5M per team, which is a "significant COVID-related drop" from the '20 cap number of $198.2M per team (ESPN.com, 5/26).
JUMPING THE GUN? PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio said of the league already setting a salary cap figure for '22, “I don’t understand and I’m trying to find out why they feel compelled now to agree to the salary cap ceiling for next year. It doesn’t matter. The salary cap is going to be what it’s going to be. Why are we setting an upper limit for the next year?” NBCSN’s Chris Simms said it "does seem a little peculiar that it’s this time of year this is popping up," as its “very rare that we kind of hear that type of thing.” Florio: “This never happens. You never set a salary cap absolute limit before the season even begins” (“PFT,” NBCSN, 5/27).
