Twitter reacts to the crazy hike in 2023 NFL salary cap
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The NFL’s salary limit is expected to return to normal in 2022, and expenditure should follow behind, with another increase in the cap expected in 2023.
According to sources, the ceiling for next season will be set at the $208.2 million maximum agreed upon by the NFL and the NFL Players Association in May. The exact figure has yet to be released, but it is likely to be unveiled next week at the NFL’s annual labor conference.
Details about the NFL salary cap
This season’s wage cap is $182.5 million, down from $198.2 million in 2020, but far more than it would have been had the league and union not agreed in August 2020 to spread a multibillion-dollar income deficit from the COVID-19 outbreak over several years.
Players are still “paying back” what amounted to a low-interest loan that allowed them to earn full wages and incentives in 2020 despite empty stadiums, and the decision to place a restriction on the 2022 cap has accelerated that payback process.
In 2021, a number of high-profile free agency agreements and extensions were still completed. However, the $15.7 million reduction in the limit forced several clubs to engage in cap acrobatics, relying on salary conversions, voidable years, and other tricks to stay in compliance. Some free agents chose one-year contracts with the hopes of returning to a more active market in March.
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What are the Twitteratti saying?
As soon as the reports broke out regarding the hiked salary cap, Twitter users came up with some interesting comments, as usual.
@TexansCap wrote, “Doubt anyone is surprised the agreed salary cap ceiling for 2022 would be hit.”
@TroyRenck tweeted “That will be a $26 million bump from this season. #Broncos have enormous cap room and 11 draft picks — including a 1, 2 2s, 2 3s — so well positioned to move in multiple directions this offseason under GM George Paton.”
@LDB1485 wrote “Jumping $26 million dollars so it’s a good thing that AB didn’t give out a crazy extension to someone”
@brentsobleski tweeted “That’s been the expected number for a while, but it’s still a significant increase of $25.5 million over this year’s salary-cap figure.”
@DWyattHupton commented “Believe the Jets have around $161 Mill committed in 2022 as of right now. Can make more room with some cuts that don’t result in a lot of dead cap. Joe has plenty of $$ to work with. #Jets #TakeFlight”
@_BMule wrote, “Just in time for Rams to give the rest to OBJ, Joe Noteboom, and Matt Stafford”
Why did the NFL decide to take the financial leap?
Unexpected stadium capacity constraints owing to a COVID surge or an implausible lockdown, according to sources, might still have an influence on the 2022 ceiling figure. However, none of these situations are deemed plausible. In 2021, no NFL games have been canceled, stadiums have been mostly full, nearly all local revenue has returned, new television deals were signed earlier this year in conjunction with the expansion to a 17-game regular season, expanded playoffs began last year, and the NFL is increasingly flush with gambling money and other new revenue streams.
All of this has led to speculation that the limit may rise significantly again in 2023 when money from new TV agreements arrives and triggers media “kickers” in the 2020 collective bargaining agreement, which could boost players’ income share from 48 percent to 48.8 percent.
The NFLPA‘s decision on how to recompense players for some incentives that were discontinued in 2020, such as performance-based compensation, Pro Bowl money, and tuition help, will have a role in how much the limit rises in 2023.
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Lakshya Chopra
(2595 Articles Published)