Which Teams Have the Most Cap Space Heading Into the 2026 NFL Offseason?
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
As the 2025 NFL season wraps and playoff races heat up, front offices are already eyeing the 2026 offseason as one of the most influential periods for roster building in football. Salary cap space will determine which contenders can chase marquee free agents, which contenders must restructure or cut to stay competitive, and which rebuilders can accelerate their timelines.
Understanding the 2026 Salary Cap Landscape
The NFL’s salary cap for 2026 is projected at around $303.5 million, a healthy figure that gives teams room to maneuver in free agency and re-sign key contributors.
Top Clubs With Cap Room Heading Into Free Agency
1. Kansas City Chiefs — $11.35 million
The Chiefs surprisingly top many early cap rankings, with approximately $11.35 million in projected cap space heading into the offseason.
This follows savvy cap work, including a major restructure of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ contract, which freed up more than $43 million in 2026 cap room, though it pushes more money into future years.
For Kansas City, this flexibility could be crucial in retooling around Mahomes, potentially adding at least one impact offensive or defensive free agent while maintaining roster balance.
2. Minnesota Vikings — $43.20 million
Next up are the Minnesota Vikings with over $43.20 million in cap space.
Minnesota’s offseason strategy will be fascinating: while they’ve cleared room, they also have key decisions looming around quarterback play and defensive upgrades. Analysts have noted that Minnesota still faces questions at the most important position, making its cap flexibility potentially more urgent than comfortable.
3. Dallas Cowboys — $30.17 million
The Dallas Cowboys enter the offseason with nearly $30.17 million of projected space.
Dallas’ financial flexibility comes as it looks to balance re-signing homegrown talent and addressing defensive needs. With a strong recent track record and a playoff corps built to win now, the Cowboys could be active in targeting impactful veterans.
4. Miami Dolphins — $3.18 million
The Miami Dolphins are also notable for their cap situation, with an estimated $16.4 million in free space before adjusting rosters.
Miami may not be among the biggest spenders in absolute terms, but its space is strategically positioned to strengthen specific areas, such as wide receiver support or linebacker depth, without a dramatic restructuring.
Cap Space All The Teams Have
Beyond the top tier, several clubs sit in positions to be “swing spenders” teams with meaningful room but not overwhelming flexibility. Here’s the list of cap space each NFL team has:
- Tennessee Titans: $103.50 million
- Las Vegas Raiders: $91.52 million
- Los Angeles Chargers: $82.94 million
- New York Jets: $79.34 million
- Washington Commanders: $74.55 million
- Seattle Seahawks: $61.88 million
- Cincinnati Bengals: $53.49 million
- Los Angeles Rams: $44.94 million
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $44.94 million
- San Francisco 49ers: $41.87 million
- New England Patriots: $40.56 million
- Arizona Cardinals: $39.18 million
- Indianapolis Colts: $35.71 million
- Denver Broncos: $28.88 million
- Atlanta Falcons: $26.46 million
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $23.94 million
- Baltimore Ravens: $22.04 million
- Philadelphia Eagles: $18.15 million
- Carolina Panthers: $12.95 million
- New York Giants: $5.14 million
- Cleveland Browns: $3.21 million
- Miami Dolphins: $3.18 million
- Green Bay Packers: -$1.58 million
- Houston Texans: -$4.72 million
- Chicago Bears: -$5.30 million
- New Orleans Saints: -$7.53 million
- Detroit Lions: -$9.92 million
- Kansas City Chiefs: -$11.35 million
- Buffalo Bills: -$12.34 million
- Jacksonville Jaguars: -$13.04 million
- Dallas Cowboys: -$30.17 million
- Minnesota Vikings: -$43.20 million
These squads will likely pick their spots, focusing on niche free agent targets or extensions rather than wholesale roster overhauls.
Conclusion: Cap Space Will Shape the 2026 NFL Offseason
The 2026 NFL offseason promises to be one of the most dynamic in recent memory, not just for the talent available but for who has the financial firepower to acquire it.
Teams like the Titans and Raiders enter free agency with considerable space, giving them optionality to pursue stars or extend rising contributors, while clubs like the Cowboys and Steelers balance opportunity with precision.
