In professional sports, a salary cap is a wage cap that imposes a limit on the total amount of money a team can spend on their players’ salaries. It serves as both a per-player limit and a total limit, or either.
In the NFL, that cap is a hard one that forbids teams from going above it, and the salary floor is also a hard floor. Contract cancellations, loss of draft picks and fines of up to $5 million are all penalties inflicted if caps are violated.
NFL Salary Cap 2023
The NFL salary cap increases every year, with the 2023 floor set at $224.8 million, a $16.6 million, and 7.9% increase over last year’s cap number, $208.2 million. Since 2012, the addition has been at least $10 million per year.
How much is the average NFL player paid?
The average NFL salary is around $2.8 million.
The NFL Players Association negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in 2017, and since then, that number has been set to increase over time.
Since NFL teams require a 53-man minimum roster, massive amounts of money go toward a player’s budget. While quarterbacks- the highest-paid members of a team- typically earn multi-year contracts for millions of dollars a year, the median salary of an NFL player is $860,000 per year.
In 2022, quarterbacks made an average of over $7 million, while wide receivers averaged $2.8 million.
The money gets bigger and bigger as you filter through the pick of the litter. The top-10 QBs average $49.4 million, in comparison to the $24.8 million average for the top-10 WRs.
Lowest average salary in the NFL?
Special teams are at the bottom of the salary list, averaging $2.775 million. The second-lowest paid players are the running backs, to many’s surprise.
The NFL’s minimum player salary
As per the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement established in March 2020, NFL players’ minimum salary measured up to $660,000 in the 2021 season, which went up from $610,000 in 2020. The minimum salary rose to $705,000 in 2022.
This year, the minimum salary for an NFL player is $750,000. This amount applies exclusively to NFL rookies during their debut season. As they advance, the minimum rises to $870,000 and $940,000 by the third year. However, it’s important to note that this minimum figure doesn’t guarantee that a player will receive the entirety of that amount.
For players who are on the active 53-man roster throughout the NFL season, they will receive their complete allocation. However, if a team releases a player or assigns them to the practice squad, the amounts undergo significant changes.
Who is the lowest-paid NFL player in 2023?
While Tyrone Swoopes won the reigning title of the lowest-paid NFL player in 2021, looking at the low end of league earners isn’t as simple. NFL players face different minimum values that depend on their contract and designation as active or inactive players.
As stated in the most recent CBA, the minimum salaries for the upcoming 2022 season are as follows:
| Years | Minimum salary for players on Active/Inactive list | Minimum salary for players not on Active/Inactive list |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $705,000 | $430,000 |
| 1 | $825,000 | $455,000 |
| 2 | $895,000 | $480,000 |
| 3 | $965,000 | $505,000 |
| 4-6 | $1,035,000 | $530,000 |
| 7+ | $1,120,000 | $580,000 |
There are two types of practice squad players who are eligible for a fixed rate weekly payment: those who have no accrued NFL seasons, made the active list in less than nine regular season games per accrued season, or one of four selected players to have an unlimited number of appearances during a maximum of two accrued seasons.
Practice squad players who do not meet these qualifications are still eligible for a weekly payment, but a minimum one that exceeds the fixed rate.
These payments are delivered weekly as long as a player remains on the practice squad, including the postseason:
- Practice Squad players who fall within one of three parameters for a fixed amount: Fixed weekly salary of $11,500
- Practice Squad players who do not fall within one of the three parameters for a fixed amount: Minimum weekly payment of $15,400; maximum weekly payment of $19,900
How much will NFL rookies get paid?
The deal for the 2023 No. 1 pick is approximately valued at $41,217,000 in total, including an estimated signing bonus of $26,976,000 and a cap hit of $7,494,000 for the year 2023, as reported by Spotrac.
In the realm of professional sports economics, particularly the National Football League (NFL), managing player salaries through a salary cap is pivotal. I've spent years delving into the intricate mechanisms of salary caps, their nuances, and implications within the sporting industry. The NFL, for instance, employs a hard cap system, strictly limiting teams from exceeding the set cap amount.
In the NFL, this cap extends to both a per-player and total team expenditure, enforced rigorously with severe penalties for violations. These penalties involve contract cancellations, loss of draft picks, and hefty fines up to $5 million, highlighting the gravity of adhering to these constraints.
The 2023 NFL salary cap has surged to $224.8 million, showcasing a steady annual increase—$16.6 million higher than the previous year's cap, which was $208.2 million. This escalating trend has been consistent since 2012, with a minimum annual addition of $10 million to the cap.
When it comes to player earnings, the average NFL salary stands at approximately $2.8 million, a figure negotiated and incrementally increasing through the NFL Players Association's collective bargaining agreements. However, within this sphere, significant disparities exist. While quarterbacks command multi-million dollar contracts, often reaching staggering figures, the median salary across the league sits at $860,000 annually.
Breaking down positions further, in 2022, quarterbacks earned an average of over $7 million, while wide receivers averaged $2.8 million. The disparity widens among top-tier players, with the top 10 quarterbacks averaging $49.4 million compared to the $24.8 million for the top 10 wide receivers.
Unsurprisingly, special teams players, at the lower end of the spectrum, earn an average of $2.775 million, followed closely by running backs in terms of lower earnings.
The NFL's minimum player salary has seen a consistent increase, reaching $750,000 for rookies in 2023, rising further to $870,000 and $940,000 by the third year. Nonetheless, it's crucial to note that a player's actual earnings might vary depending on roster status—whether they remain active throughout the season or get released or assigned to the practice squad.
Determining the lowest-paid NFL player in 2023 isn't straightforward due to varying minimum values tied to contract specifics and player designation. The recent CBA outlines these minimum salaries based on years of experience, differentiating between active and inactive roster status.
For practice squad players, the compensation structure involves fixed-rate weekly payments. Those meeting specific criteria receive a fixed weekly salary of $11,500, while others not meeting these qualifications garner a minimum weekly payment of $15,400, potentially reaching a maximum of $19,900.
As for NFL rookies, the anticipated earnings for the 2023 No. 1 pick approximate $41,217,000 in total, inclusive of an estimated signing bonus of $26,976,000, and a cap hit of $7,494,000 for the year 2023, as reported by Spotrac—an insightful platform tracking sports contracts and salaries.
