2023 NFL Cap Space, By Teams

There is still time to make a number of moves before this year’s trade deadline of October 31st. However, more will come as sellers try to shed expiring contracts and acquire future draft picks, and contending teams try to build their squads for the stretch run. Naturally, the financial status of each squad will play a major role.

Here’s a breakdown of every team’s cap space in advance of the deadline:

1. San Francisco 49ers: $39.89MM
2. Cleveland Browns: $33.99MM
3. Arizona Cardinals: $11.1MM
4. Cincinnati Bengals: $10.78MM
5. Tennessee Titans: $10.55MM
6. Las Vegas Raiders: $9.16MM
7. Chicago Bears: $9.06MM
8. Los Angeles Chargers: $9.05MM
9. Indianapolis Colts: $8.78MM
10. Minnesota Vikings: $7.96MM
11. Green Bay Packers: $7.55MM
12. New York Jets: $7.17MM
13. Seattle Seahawks: $7.16MM
14. Carolina Panthers: $7.07MM
15. Dallas Cowboys: $7.03MM
16. Baltimore Ravens: $6.83MM
17. Atlanta Falcons: $6.76MM
18. Detroit Lions: $6.62MM
19. Jacksonville Jaguars: $6.42MM
20. New Orleans Saints: $4.67MM
21. Buffalo Bills: $4.58MM
22. Los Angeles Rams: $4.37MM
23. Houston Texans: $4.26MM
24. Washington Commanders: $3.78MM
25. Kansas City Chiefs: $3.7MM
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $3.63MM
27. Miami Dolphins: $3.49MM
28. New England Patriots: $2.87MM
29. Philadelphia Eagles: $2.81MM
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: $2.55MM
31. Denver Broncos: $1.22MM
32. New York Giants: $991K

Although the 49ers have carried a large amount of cash into the upcoming season, general manager John Lynch stated last month that the team plans to roll over the majority of their funds. Nevertheless, San Francisco is already 5-2 on the season, so it wouldn’t be shocking if at least one additional depth addition (unrelated to the Randy Gregory trade) were made soon.

Trade activity was dominated for a while by deals involving pick swaps for role players, but more notable contributors have recently been linked to a possible exchange. Titans safety Kevin Byard is one of them who has previously been dealt with. This has given rise to rumors that, as they consider 2024, Tennessee is willing to negotiate with additional big names. Although it currently seems doubtful, Derrick Henry’s name has been mentioned several times in relation to a transaction that would have sent him out of Nashville.

There are a number of edge rushers available, such as Danielle Hunter (Vikings) and one or both of Montez Sweat and Chase Young (Commanders). Hunter almost signed with the Jaguars this offseason, and the AFC South champions may be searching for an upgrade in the pass rush. In that sense, it would not be surprising to see a mid-level addition. Regarding Minnesota and Washington, however, given their 3–4 records going into tomorrow’s play, it is unclear if they will be genuine sellers.

It’s also possible that several receivers could soon be moving. Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton of the Broncos and Terrace Marshall of the Panthers have both been prominently involved in trade discussions. The Broncos won’t likely get the draft capital they were able to earlier in Jeudy and Sutton’s Denver tenures, as they are signed for an eight-figure price tag for the upcoming season. In comparison, Marshall is in the third year of his four-year rookie contract and might be easier to work into the cap scenario of an acquiring team. He is free to look for a trade partner thanks to the Panthers.

Although the Cowboys had the most spending power in the NFL, their early intentions to make a big splash were not entirely clear. Dallas’ owner, Jerry Jones, has stated that the team will not pursue trade talks, citing his faith in a 4-2 lineup that has been hampered by a number of noteworthy ailments, particularly on defense. The Bengals are also anticipated to be quiet in the trade market despite having more cap room than the majority of other clubs.

The league has experienced a noticeable increase in trade activity over the last few years, so it would be shocking if that trend did not continue over the next days. Although teams in need of flexibility could pull off last-minute reorganizations and cost-shedding moves, sellers will undoubtedly also be requested to keep money if some of the higher-paid veterans on the trade block wind up getting traded. There is a good chance that the league’s composition will shift before the final stretch that leads to the playoffs, considering the wealth of the teams at the top of the list.