NEWS
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As per usual, we kickoff the NFL season with a snapshot look at how each NFL team is allocated their salary cap money positionally, including a few notable thoughts going forward. Please note that these numbers reflect cap dollars being allocated to each team's current 53-man roster. On many of our views, we offer a filter to view spending data based on Full Roster, Active Roster, or Starters. These numbers reflect the "Active Roster".
Related: Positional NFL Spending on Spotrac
Notable Notes
- A slew of signings, acqusitions, and high draft picks have the Browns initial 53-man roster up to $184M, the most in football, and $80M more than the "tanking" Dolphins. The Vikings & Rams, both of whom have extended a handful of their own players in recent months, find themselves 2 & 3 to start the 2019 campaign.
- The Cowboys, Ravens, & Chiefs carry the lowest financial allocations to the QB position, despite top of the league starters. The Lions, Vikings, & Giants headline the most QB dollars in 2019, yet all could be in jeopardy of missing the postseason
- The devaluation of the individual running back continues, but the Patriots have gone all-in on paying an arsenal of backs "average" salaries to share the role. They lead the league in RB spending by more than $1.5M.Meanwhile the Chargers, sans Melvin Gordon, bring up the rear at just $2.6M, but should see strong production from an Ekeler/Jackson duo.
- Acquiring Odell Beckham Jr. to go with an already signed Jarvis Landry equals the highest WR cap number in the league, by more than $5M. An Antonio Brown-less Steelers now have just $7.5M spent into their 6 WRs, while an Odell-less Giants have just $8.3M spent into their 6 wideouts.
- The Patriots have owned the TE spending title for years, but the loss of Gronkowski drops them to 31st in the league for 2019. A Jordan Reed/Vernon Davis combo has the Redskins atop this list, with Jimmy Graham's expensive salary helping the Packers fall into 2nd here.
- Plenty of teams restructured their offensive line this offseason, but the Cowboys' didn't need to budge. A new contract for La'el Collins bumps Dallas' overall OL spending to $51.8M, almost $8M more than the 2nd place Jets. Meanwhile, the Tunsil-less Dolphins, Bears, & Patriots bring up the rear.
- The 49ers have spent two straight drafts bolstering their defense, and Nick Bosa's healthy rookie contract pushes SF to the top of the DL spending list. Much the same can be said for the Bills, who find themselves second here, while the Giants, Dolphins, and Packers round out the rear.
- Earl Thomas' outstanding free agent deal bolsters the Ravens' secondary spending up to a league leading $53M, while his old Seahawks team falls to 30th in the league as the try to rebuild the defense on the fly. Recent deals for Xavien Howard & Reshad Jones have the Dolphins ranked second in spending here, which stands out amongst a team breaking down much of their roster for a full redo.
- The Ravens have been paying Justin Tucker well for years (deservedly so), and as such sit atop the Special Team spending list. While the Chargers - who have had their share of kicking issues - find themselves dead last here.
