The Washington Commanders may have a plethora of roster holes to fill this offseason, but at least general manager Adam Peters has his team in a healthy financial position. And based on a significant development, it's improved further.
Peters has always preached the importance of maintaining future financial flexibility. Washington's rise to the NFC Championship game led the front office to acquire proven veterans on one-year deals to see if they could get them over the hump. It failed miserably, but most of the Commanders' underachievers can be disposed of with no ramifications attached.
A busy few months lie ahead for Peters and others in positions of power. Before then, the former San Francisco 49ers executive got a timely gift from the league, and it couldn't have come at a more perfect time.
Commanders now have even more money to spend this offseason
Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network revealed that the league has contacted teams about the salary cap soaring to more than $300 million next season. It's gone up $100 million in four years, which is nothing short of astonishing as business continues to boom.
"The NFL informed clubs today it is projecting a 2026 salary cap in the range of $301.2 million to $305.7 million per club, per source. That would represent another significant jump from this year’s $279.2 million cap number, and nearly $100M than the $208.2M cap in 2022."Tom Pelissero
This puts the Commanders in an even more profitable position. According to Over the Cap, they are now projected to have $71.41 million in available resources, and the figure is likely to increase once the required sacrifices are made.
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore's inevitable release and left tackle Laremy Tunsil's extension could get Washington's funds to the $100 million mark. That doesn't guarantee anything, but it provides Peters with the ammunition to be aggressive and bold in finding players who can help now and well into the future.
This rise might also ensure defensive tackle Daron Payne sticks around. His $27.95 million cap hit on the final year of his deal can be absorbed without jeopardizing the chances of strengthening other ideas. This also gives Peters more breathing space before taking further action on the player's long-term status.
It's a fluid situation, and very few on the Commanders can consider their statuses secure in 2026. This surprising surge in the salary cap only improves Peters' chances of getting the necessary reinforcements into the building.
The NFL has never been more profitable or popular. For Peters, it's also given him some extra money to throw around when the all-important recruitment phase gets underway.
And that is never a bad thing.