When the NFL and NFLPA negotiate the Collective Bargaining Agreement, it was believed that the salary cap would see a significant increase. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL believes the 2021 salary cap could take a ‘massive hit’.
This offseason, the NFL had a $198.2 million salary cap, allowing teams to spend a bit more money than expected. With the new CBA in place, there were rumors that the salary cap could balloon to nearly $210 million.
But with the coronavirus costing teams a large sum of money, that increase may not go as expected next offseason. Of course, that could cause certain teams to begin making moves in accordance with a possible decline in cap space in 2021.
One team that could be heavily affected by the possible salary cap decrease is the Dallas Cowboys. Since before the 2019 season, the Cowboys have been trying to negotiate a long-term contract with Dak Prescott. While they had to place the franchise tag on him, Dallas lost Byron Jones and Robert Quinn in NFL free agency.
Even though they placed the tag on Prescott, the Cowboys remain fixated on getting a deal done with him as soon as possible. In the event that the salary cap suffers a hiccup next offseason, signing Prescott could become a little more difficult.
Besides the Cowboys, there are going to be certain teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, who may have to wait to sign their franchise quarterback. It will be interesting to see how teams react to the news of a possible decline in the salary cap.