NFL projected to increase salary cap to between $277.5m and $281.5m in 2025

The salary cap for the 2025 NFL season is expected to rise by a minimum of $22m from last year, according to a report from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero.

The league informed teams on Wednesday to expect a salary cap range of between $277.5m and $281.5m, up from a total of $255.4 million in 2024. That range exceeds the $265-275 million teams were originally budgeting for in December, and represents an increase of between $22.1 million and $26.1 million.

Taking the median point of the new salary range, that leaves the Vikings with cap space of $63.3 million. However, once a minimum of 51 players are signed, including the 2025 rookie class, that represents an ‘effective’ cap space of just over $61 million, according to Over the Cap.

Free agency opens on March 12th, although teams are already able to apply the franchise or transition tag to their impending free agents, and will be able to negotiate with players from other teams from March 10th. Prominent players yet to re-sign with the Vikings include quarterback Sam Darnold, running back Aaron Jones, cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy and Shaq Griffin, and safety Cam Bynum.

Depending on the Vikings’ activity in free agency, they’ll have eyes on plenty of positions in the draft, including offensive line and the defensive secondary. The draft is scheduled to take place at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on April 24th-26th.

Before that, the annual NFL Scouting Combine begins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, next Thursday, February 27th, when Vikings scouts will be able to take a closer look at some of the players they’re looking at picking up in the draft. The combine runs until Sunday, March 2nd.

What do you think of the salary cap increase? Who do you think the Vikings should spend the extra money on? Let us know on any of our social media channels or drop us an email at UKVikingsFanClub@gmail.com