Salary cap skyrockets to $255.4M, up a record $30.6 million
NEW YORK » The NFL’s salary cap for 2024 will be $255.4 million, up a record $30.6 million from last year.
The cap number has gone from $198.2 million in 2020 to $182.5 million in 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic. It increased to $208.2 million in 2022 and $224.8 million last year.
“The unprecedented $30 million increase per club in this year’s salary cap is the result of the full repayment of all amounts advanced by the clubs and deferred by the players during the Covid pandemic as well as an extraordinary increase in media revenue for the 2024 season,” the league said in a statement.
Teams are heading into next week’s NFL combine and preparing for the free agency period to open March 13 with an opportunity to spend more freely.
The increased cap total could impact how teams use the franchise tag. The 15-day window to apply the tag to impending free agents began on Feb. 20.
Steelers cut veteran center Cole
PITTSBURGH » The Pittsburg Steelers released veteran center Mason Cole on Friday, creating nearly $5 million in salary cap space.
Cole had one year left on the three-year, $15.75 million deal he signed in spring of 2022. He had issues snapping in shotgun formation and clearly would have cost more than the Steelers were willing to pay him in 2024.
Cole started all 34 regular-season games for Pittsburgh over the last two seasons, as well as the team’s wild-card game in 2023
He was scheduled to count $6.27 million against the cap. By cutting him now, the Steelers will save $4.75 million.
Dolphins release veteran DE Ogbah
MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. » The Miami Dolphins announced Friday that they released defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah in a move that will clear up $13.7 million in cap space.
Ogbah, who signed with the Dolphins in 2020, was two seasons into a four-year extension worth $65 million. He spent four seasons with the Dolphins, recording 24 sacks, one interception, 19 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 27 starts.
He led the team in sacks in 2021, but his 2022 campaign was cut short because of a season-ending triceps injury.
Ogbah appeared in 15 games last season with just one start. He had five sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.
Ex-head coaches Lewis, Philbin part of Pierce’s first Raiders staff
HENDERSON, NEV. » As Antonio Pierce prepares for his first season as the Las Vegas Raiders’ full-time coach, he is counting on two experienced former head coaches to help guide him.
The Raiders announced their full staff Friday, and former Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is the assistant head coach and ex-Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin is the senior offensive assistant.
Lewis led the Bengals to seven playoff berths, going 131-122-3 from 2003-18. He was a key advisor when Pierce became the interim coach midway through last season.
Philbin went 24-28 as the Dolphins coach from 2012-15 and was 2-2 as the Green Bay Packers interim coach in 2018. He was an offensive analyst at Ohio State last season, but most of his NFL career was under Mike McCarthy as the offensive line coach in Green Bay and with the Dallas Cowboys. Philbin also was the Packers offensive coordinator from 2007-11.
Also notable, Scott Turner was retained as the pass game coordinator. Before joining the Raiders last season, he spent three years as the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator.