NFL’s salary cap leap provides further relief for Saints

By Ross Jackson

NFL clubs received some good news Friday afternoon as the league reportedly sent notice to all 32 teams an estimation of the 2026 salary cap. 

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the better-than-anticipated projection suggests the 2026 salary cap could land between $301.2 million and $305.7 million for each team. 

That’s at least a $22 million leap from last year’s $279.2 million. 

For New Orleans, which is currently projected to be between $20 million and $40 million over the cap for 2026, it represents greater relief than what a smaller increase would have left to achieve compliance. 

The Saints are very accustomed and adept at navigating salary cap overages with $100 million-plus deficits in their past. 

General manager Mickey Loomis said during the team’s end of year press conference that the team’s strategy to get under the cap won’t change relative to the styles of decisions they make (restructures, extensions, back-loaded contracts, etc.) but that the volume of moves needed will be less than past years. 

This boost in the salary cap, which is now set to be almost $100 million more than it was in 2022, should evoke a sigh of relief on Airline Drive.