It’s time to pay Dak.
The NFL salary cap’s value is based on league revenue, which includes proceeds tied to television and radio contracts and stadium ticket sales. No one can say categorically what the 2021 cap will be, but there is belief that even if the 2020 season is lost entirely, the 2021 cap should remain fairly flat, not dropping lower than today’s $198.2 million figure.
Revenue simply would be borrowed from future years to keep the cap afloat.
This ability to borrow from the future and protect the cap from collapse — a cap reduction from, say, $198 million to $150 million would sap free agency while forcing some high-priced veteran players to be released or accept a pay cut — is an important benefit from the recent CBA agreement.