NFL sets 2021 salary cap at $182.5M

The NFL has set the 2021 salary cap at $182.5 million, according to a league memo obtained by Albert Breer of The MMQB.

The 2021 cap represents a significant drop from last year's figure of $198.2 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many veterans have been cut in anticipation of the lower figure.

Teams facing the biggest obstacle in getting under the new figure include the New Orleans Saints ($47.8 million over the cap), Los Angeles Rams ($33.1M), and Philadelphia Eagles ($26.9M), per OverTheCap.

The NFLPA informed its board of player reps this week that the 2021 cap would've dropped to around $155 million if all COVID-19-related revenue losses were factored into the reduction, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano. Although the cap is expected to resume growing in the following years, the 2022 figure, and perhaps even the 2023 number, will have to be adjusted downward to compensate for the unaccounted losses, Graziano notes.