To the surprise of absolutely nobody, the 2025 NFL salary cap will increase from the $255.4 million figure with which teams operated this past season. But what is a bit of a surprise is the amount by which the number will rise once the new league year officially begins on March 12.
While the exact figure has yet to be determined, the NFL informed all 32 clubs on Tuesday that the cap will be set somewhere between $277.5 million and $281.5 million. Thus, owners and GMs now at least have an idea of what they'll be working with.
And it's more than what was expected, as most were thinking the number would be in the $265-$275 million range. While a few million bucks may not seem like all that much when you're talking about this kind of cash, the difference actually means quite a bit for several organizations, including the Dallas Cowboys.
Had the original projection come to fruition, America's Team would have actually been on the wrong side of the cap threshold, meaning they would have needed to release some players or restructure some contracts to become compliant before the new league year begins.
Jerry Jones will obviously still need to do those things to create more space, but he's now got a little more time as the new number takes the Cowboys out of the red and into the black, even if it's not by all that much.
The escalated figure should also give Dallas more flexibility in roster management and player retention. Naturally, Micah Parsons, who's looking for a long-term extension, was ecstatic with the news, as he expressed through his X account.
Lfg ! https://t.co/5Cu6udICpF
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) February 19, 2025
Even beyond what this means for him personally, Parsons has several reasons to be thrilled with this surge.
The salary cap increase should give the Cowboys a better chance to pay Micah Parsons while still keeping other key pieces
Since being taken with the 12th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Parsons has been one of the best defenders in the game, racking up 256 total tackles, 52.5 sacks, 112 quarterback hits, and nine forced fumbles in his first four seasons, earning four Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro nods (two First Team, one Second Team).
So, he's obviously not a guy the Cowboys want to let get away. Set to earn just over $24 million in 2025, which is the final year of his rookie deal, Parsons is expected to command roughly $10 million more per season on an extension, given the market for defensive players of his caliber.
If Jones makes the right moves with releases and restructures, Dallas should be able to create at least $60 million in additional cap space and perhaps as much as $100 million. So, paying Parsons should be a no-brainer.
Furthermore, this newfound flexibility should also allow the Cowboys to retain the likes of Osa Odighizuwa and Jourdan Lewis while also providing opportunities to secure additional extensions for players such as DaRon Bland, Tyler Smith, and Brandon Aubrey.
Parsons has repeatedly expressed his desire for Dallas to retain its core contributors, even stating he's willing to take less money to make that reality. And Jones is now in a better position to make that happen.
Yes, the Cowboys obviously still have plenty of problems on both sides of the ball. But if they can lock Parsons and a few others down now, they'll know exactly which holes need to be filled in free agency and the draft. Now, it's just up to Jones to make the right decisions.
Buckle up, Cowboys fans. As always, the offseason is bound to be an entertaining ride. So, as Parsons so eloquently put it — LFG!
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