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2025 NFL Cap Carryover, By Team

January 11th, 2025 at 9:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the regular season in the books, all NFL teams have declared their cap carryover for the 2025 league year. Unused cap space from the current campaign will roll over, a substantial element of many teams’ financial planning.

Last offseason saw a record-breaking jump in the salary cap ceiling (pushing the upper limit to $255.4MM). To no surprise, another spike is expected but a smaller year-to-year increase is likely to take place. It was learned last month that teams are preparing for the 2025 cap to check in at a figure between $265MM-$275MM.

As teams evaluate key roster-building decisions – including restructures and cuts aimed at manufacturing cap space – carryovers are crucial. It it still not known what exactly the cap ceiling will wind up as, but in the meantime every club’s space which has been rolled over will add a degree of clarity with respect to how their offseason will take shape. Several teams (including the top two on this year’s list) have made a concerted effort in recent years to carry unused space through the course of a campaign knowing a spike in cap charges for core players are forthcoming.

Courtesy of Over the Cap, here is the full breakdown of each team’s 2025 cap carryover amount:

  • San Francisco 49ers: $50.01MM
  • Cleveland Browns: $41.95MM
  • New England Patriots: $34.86MM
  • Las Vegas Raiders: $33.57MM
  • Detroit Lions: $23.73MM
  • Washington Commanders: $19.83MM
  • Dallas Cowboys: $18.84MM
  • Jacksonville Jaguars: $15.89MM
  • Green Bay Packers: $15.11MM
  • Tennessee Titans: $14.72MM
  • Arizona Cardinals: $11.38MM
  • Indianapolis Colts: $10.1MM
  • Seattle Seahawks: $8.42MM
  • Pittsburgh Steelers: $6.83MM
  • Philadelphia Eagles: $6.81MM
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $6.63MM
  • Atlanta Falcons: $6.07MM
  • Minnesota Vikings: $5.94MM
  • Cincinnati Bengals: $5.94MM
  • Chicago Bears: $5.08MM
  • Los Angeles Chargers: $4.89MM
  • Houston Texans: $4.81MM
  • Kansas City Chiefs: $3.15MM
  • Miami Dolphins: $3MM
  • New Orleans Saints: $2.93MM
  • Los Angeles Rams: $2.75MM
  • Baltimore Ravens: $2.14MM
  • Denver Broncos: $1.91MM
  • Buffalo Bills: $1.34MM
  • New York Giants: $1.17MM
  • Carolina Panthers: $490K
  • New York Jets: $346K

Micah Parsons Hoping For Extension Before Training Camp

January 11th, 2025 at 8:50am CST by Ben Levine

Both Micah Parsons and the Cowboys have expressed interest in keeping the dynamic edge rusher in Dallas for the foreseeable future. Of course, that would require a long-term agreement between the two sides, as Parsons is currently set to enter the 2025 season as an impending free agent.

[RELATED: Micah Parsons Aiming For Cowboys Extension Prior To Free Agency]

While Parsons previously expressed optimism that an extension could be completed before the start of this offseason’s free agency, it sounds like the veteran is starting to move the goalposts on his expectations. While speaking to ESPN’s Todd Archer, Parsons said he “would think” or “[would] hope” that the two sides can agree on a new deal before the start of training camp in late July.

Both sides have said all the right things over the past few months. Parsons has stated his desire to have his number retired in Dallas, while Jerry Jones made it clear that the former first-round pick is a pillar of the organization (alongside Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb). While both the Cowboys and Parsons’ camp seem to have the same goal, that doesn’t necessarily mean that negotiations will be easy.

As Archer notes, Lamb’s negotiations with the Cowboys saw a similar start. Both sides were receptive to a long-term pact, and the pressure started to mount when Lamb was entering the final season of his rookie contract (via the fifth-year option), much like Parsons is now. However, those negotiations dragged on and on, with Lamb finally inking his extension in late August.

“You know, everybody puts a lot on when [the contract is] done,” Jones said when asked about completing extensions as early as possible. “Signing Dak when he signed and signing Lamb, it had nothing to do one way or the other with their injuries, the good things that happened or the negative things that happened. … It makes me wonder if you really think people are really that fragile. Fragile in their mentality. Fragile in their personal self. My point is no, it does not. And a lot of us live not having all the things buttoned up. … And so I don’t believe the timing [is an issue]. What I would really hang your hat on is how much we paid him and what he needs to be and what he is. That’s the big thing.”

Archer opines that inking Parsons early would better help the Cowboys navigate the offseason. Further, an extension could help to reduce the player’s cap hit for the 2025 campaign, making it even easier to add talent as the organization looks to return to contention. Plus, the two sides could avoid the lingering story line of a potential holdout; Archer notes that Parsons’ past attendance at offseason programs has been “spotty.”

One thing is certain: Parsons’ second NFL contract will pay him handsomely. The three-time All-Pro recipient has established himself as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, with Parsons collecting 52.5 sacks through four seasons in the league.

Cowboys, HC Mike McCarthy To Begin Contract Talks

January 10th, 2025 at 11:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Mike McCarthy‘s future remains uncertain at this point as the expiration of his current contract draws nearer. Further signs point to him remaining in place in place as the Cowboys’ head coach, though.

McCarthy and owner Jerry Jones have remained in contact since the end of the season, although terms of a potential new pact had not yet been a topic of discussion. That is set to change now, however. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports the sides are set to begin negotiating a new pact today.

Jones routinely praised McCarthy during the season, making it clear in the wake of the team’s poor start he would not consider an in-season dismissal. Given the fact McCarthy was on an expiring deal, though, questions lingered over his status throughout the campaign. The former Packers Super Bowl winner has also received votes of confidence from players (including quarterback Dak Prescott), so it would come as little surprise if a new agreement were to be worked out.

McCarthy has been in Dallas since 2020. His Cowboys tenure has included three postseason appearances (spanning the 2021, ’22 and ’23 campaigns in which the team went 12-5 each time), but a lack of playoff success has been a defining characteristic of his time guiding the team. Jones noted Dallas’ wild-card loss to Green Bay last year played a key role in his decision not to offer McCarthy an extension, with the same also being the case for the team’s assistant coaches.

In the early stages of the 2025 hiring cycle, though, McCarthy has been connected to a pair of teams which currently have a vacancy. The Bears requested permission for an interview, but the Cowboys blocked it. Meanwhile, the Saints have emerged as a team to watch in the event McCarthy becomes a coaching free agent. January 14 represents the point at which his existing deal will expire, meaning he and Jones only have a short window of opportunity to agree to terms before other teams enter the fray.

A Wednesday report indicated some of the assistants on McCarthy’s staff have received interest from outside suitors with their own futures still in the air. It will be interesting to see if any coordinators or position coaches wind up making a move in the coming days (or at least agreeing to a deal with a new team), but with McCarthy seemingly on track to remain in place that may be unlikely at this point.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/9/25

January 9th, 2025 at 8:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:

Dallas Cowboys

Kansas City Chiefs

Mike McCarthy Connected To Saints’ HC Job; Aaron Glenn Holding Early Lead?

January 9th, 2025 at 4:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mike McCarthy resides in the unique position of being under contract for a team at season’s end but not tied to that club for the ensuing season. The Cowboys constructed his deal to expire Jan. 14. Not giving their five-year HC an extension despite three straight 12-win seasons, the Cowboys have five days to extend him.

The sides are still talking, and a decent chance exists McCarthy is back in Dallas on a second contract. But that is not a lock. The Bears attempted to test the Cowboys on this front by sending a McCarthy interview request; Dallas blocked it. The NFC East team will not be able to block any such overtures after Tuesday; no deal being done by then would send McCarthy to the market and create one of the more interesting scenarios we have seen on a coaching carousel.

If McCarthy reaches the market, the Saints could emerge as an option. While the Bears would conceivably be back in play, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicates McCarthy could have some interest in the New Orleans position. McCarthy has a past with the organization, having been the Saints’ offensive coordinator from 2000-04.

That marked McCarthy’s first OC job, and it started off well. Despite losing starter Jeff Blake to injury during the 2000 season, the Saints rallied to the playoffs behind second-year QB Aaron Brooks. The team then notched its elusive first playoff win, over the defending champion Rams. New Orleans, however, did not make the playoffs again during Jim Haslett‘s tenure. The Saints did still rank in the top 14 offensively in each McCarthy season. By 2005, McCarthy was in San Francisco as 49ers OC, using that perch to land the Packers’ HC job in 2006.

The GM during part of McCarthy’s Saints stint remains, and Mickey Loomis has been connected to prioritizing familiarity. Aaron Glenn came up as a candidate last month, and he joins fellow ex-Saints assistant Joe Brady on the team’s interview list. This McCarthy tie also follows a report that had the Saints content with their current list of candidates. McCarthy, 61, could certainly be added if his Cowboys contract expires without a new deal in place.

Going into the first round of interviews, though, Fowler adds that Glenn may have the early lead. It would not be surprising to see the four-year Lions DC land this job. He was a candidate in 2022 despite the Lions having finished 3-13-1 in ’21. Glenn coached the Saints’ DBs for five seasons under Sean Payton, working under Loomis, who is running this search.

The Lions have also become one of the league’s premier success stories in recent memory, completing a rebuild that has since produced 13-4 and 15-2 records. Glenn’s defense also closed the regular season with a statement, holding the high-octane Vikings attack to nine points despite missing a few key cogs.

Glenn, 52, is set to meet with four other teams — the Bears, Jaguars, Jets and Raiders — between now and Saturday. His Saints virtual interview is scheduled for Friday. More updates will emerge in connection with the New Orleans job, but given Glenn’s ties to the team and his decision to decline a Patriots interview request, the veteran assistant may be close to nailing down a job after a few years of trying.

Courtesy of PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how the Saints’ HC search looks:

Cowboys, Mike McCarthy Continuing Conversations; Delays Could Prove Costly

January 9th, 2025 at 2:39pm CST by Ely Allen

JANUARY 9: McCarthy is viewed as more likely to stay in Dallas than move on, according to some close to the situation (via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler). The former Super Bowl winner could push his way to the market by not agreeing to a deal, but for now, it does not appear the Cowboys are keen on merely letting their five-year HC walk.

JANUARY 8: The situation in Dallas continues to be fairly tenuous. After early reports indicated that Cowboys owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones was undecided about keeping head coach Mike McCarthy in his current role, the newest intel from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport indicates that the two sides want to continue working together, they just need to find an agreement that works.

McCarthy’s contract expires on January 14, making it an easy decision to cut off communication for two weeks if either side wishes to opt out. Instead, Rapoport points to a number of supporting factors like the fact that the two sides are in constant communication or that Jones denied the Bears permission to interview McCarthy. Rapoport does note his opinion that the Bears denial was a performative gesture, acknowledging McCarthy’s leverage in the negotiations.

Per Rapoport, the sides appear to want to work something out. He believes that it’s just a matter of figuring out the right length and compensation in the contract, though those talks have yet to begin. The remaining discussions to be had will center around everyone’s continuing role and what things will look like moving forward, as the status quo has certainly led to disappointment.

This delay and back-and-forth of performative gestures may serve both Jones and McCarthy as they seek the best terms for themselves, but ultimately, it could prove damaging to the Cowboys organization as a whole. While McCarthy is still under contract for a little less than a week, Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS points out that the team’s assistant coaches are officially free agents. The employees can continue working alongside McCarthy and continue being paid as at-will employees, but they are out of the office until Monday, and their phone lines are open.

Per Hill, those phones are ringing. Hill reported that candidates who are being interviewed for open head coaching positions have already started reaching out to Dallas’ assistants about joining their prospective staffs. As Jones and McCarthy continue to flirt with the idea of a new contract, their assistants may be slipping out from beneath them for other, more solid opportunities.

Cowboys Deny Bears Permission For Mike McCarthy HC Interview

January 7th, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a bit of a delay, the Cowboys have responded to the Bears regarding Mike McCarthy. Dallas is blocking its head coach from meeting with Chicago brass for a lateral move, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Teams requesting meetings with other clubs’ HCs is certainly rare, but with McCarthy having coached on an expiring contract, the Cowboys left the door open to such requests. The Bears were the only team thus far to request a meeting. That said, Dallas only has McCarthy under contract for another week. After January 14, the team cannot block its HC from interviewing elsewhere.

[RELATED: Bears Open To Trading For Head Coach]

This comes after Jones had said, “go talk” (via SI.com’s Mike Fisher) in reference to McCarthy potentially meeting with other teams. Tuesday’s development runs counter to that sentiment. No decision has been made on McCarthy, however, AllDLLS.com’s Clarence Hill reports.

The Cowboys have a week to work out another contract with McCarthy. Otherwise, a scenario in which the NFC East team is vying for its own coach on the market would arise. Tuesday’s decision could be interpreted as a Cowboys effort to keep McCarthy. If nothing else, the Cowboys would appear undecided on letting their HC walk. The team has been known for delayed calls here, as the Jason Garrett era reminds.

Some momentum appeared to build in favor of this transpiring, with Dak Prescott offering a strong endorsement of his HC late in the season. The Cowboys also preceded this disappointing season with three straight 12-win campaigns. They had not enjoyed that kind of consistency since their 1990s dynasty, though McCarthy’s squads obviously left plenty to be desired in terms of playoff success.

Still, the Cowboys have let a former Super Bowl-winning coach dangle after refusing to extend his contract last year. Jerry Jones cited the Packers debacle as the primary reason he refused to do so. Connections to Bill Belichick emerged last year, but the Cowboys stayed the course with McCarthy. While it looked like Dallas would indeed not renew his contract, the rare NFL lame-duck HC generated some support and now looks to have a legitimate chance to stay. Then again, McCarthy may also be miffed by the Cowboys denying him a chance to talk to the Bears while still not giving him a new deal yet.

As of Sunday, Jones was indeed undecided on McCarthy. This, then, becomes a pivotal stretch of days. With in-person interviews with contracted coaches not permitted until after the divisional round, McCarthy would have an advantage if the Cowboys do not renew his contract by the 14th. He would be free to meet with any team at that point. Coaches tied to playoff teams that did not earn home-field advantage cannot start interviewing virtually until next week. In-person meetings cannot take place until Jan. 20, and even then, teams would be unable to meet with coaches on conference championship-bound teams.

The Bears have requested meetings with four former head coaches — Mike Vrabel, Arthur Smith, Brian Flores and Pete Carroll; the former Seahawks leader will meet with the team Thursday. McCarthy’s matter may well not be sorted out by then, but the ex-Green Bay HC’s path to Chicago is closed for the time being.

Ezekiel Elliott To Sign With Chargers Practice Squad

January 6th, 2025 at 8:55pm CST by Ben Levine

After requesting his release from the Cowboys in pursuit of a playoff run, Ezekiel Elliott has landed with a postseason squad. The veteran running back is signing with the Chargers practice squad, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

[RELATED: Cowboys Release Ezekiel Elliott]

Elliott attracted interest from a handful of playoff-bound teams, according to Schultz. The running back ultimately chose the Chargers because he liked the fit alongside coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds that there’s hope that Elliott can get “up to speed quickly” and contribute to his squad in the playoffs.

Following a one-season stop in New England, Elliott returned to the Cowboys this past offseason. With Tony Pollard no longer in the picture, there was hope that the long-time Dallas star could once again lead the backfield. The veteran saw a somewhat significant role to begin the season, including the season opener when he ran for 40 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

As the season went on, Elliott found himself definitively behind Rico Dowdle on the depth chart. The veteran generally struggled when he was on the field, as his 3.1 yards-per-carry represented a new career-low. Elliott also faced discipline in November for his “habitual tardiness,” leading to his Week 9 absence. With the Cowboys firmly out of the playoff picture entering the final week of the season, Elliott requested and was granted his release as he pursued an opportunity with a playoff team.

He’ll find that opportunity in Los Angeles, where the Chargers have navigated a new RB corps in 2024. J.K. Dobbins recently returned to his RB1 role after missing four weeks with a sprained knee, but fellow RB Gus Edwards is currently nursing his own ankle issue. Hassan Haskins and rookie Kimani Vidal have filled in admirably at times for the Chargers throughout the 2024 campaign, but considering Dobbins’ injury history, some extra depth certainly won’t hurt.

Of course, expectations have to be managed for the team’s newest addition. Even as Elliott found the end zone 12 times during the 2022 campaign, the RB was already showing signs of decline, leading to the Cowboys bailing from his six-year, $90MM extension. He didn’t look a whole lot better during his lone season with the Patriots, and he hit a new low this season with only 295 yards from scrimmage. The Chargers are set to take on the Texans this Saturday, so it may be unrealistic for Elliott to earn the team’s trust in less than a week. If the Chargers win their Wild Card matchup and Edwards is still sidelined, then Elliott could potentially play a goal-line role for the team in later rounds.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/6/25

January 6th, 2025 at 7:45pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

  • Re-signed (two years): CB Jason Maitre

New Orleans Saints

  • Re-signed: K Charlie Smyth

A number of impending free agents quickly re-signed with their current organizations today. While these players aren’t shoo-ins for roster spots in 2025, they are attached to actual NFL contracts (vs. reserve/futures contracts, which would need to be converted into real contracts if a player makes a 53-man roster).

In addition to hanging on to kicker Charlie Smyth today, the Saints also had to deal with some notable details on a previously-agreed-upon contract. The NFL rejected the team’s contract to safety Travion Fluellen, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. The organization later revised the agreement, bumping the contract from a two-year pact to a three-year pact. It’s uncertain why the league rejected the initial deal, although it could be due to Fluellen’s status as a former UFL player.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/6/25

January 6th, 2025 at 7:29pm CST by Ben Levine

With the regular season having come to an end, many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts. This allows organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

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