NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints must free up approximately $43 million in salary cap space before the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 12.
The 2025 salary cap was set at $279.2 million on Thursday, a $23.8 million raise from last year. Teams are not allowed to be over the salary cap once the free agency signing period begins, giving the Saints about two weeks to get cap compliant.
The $45 million estimate includes "dead money" hits from releasing wide receiver Michael Thomas and quarterback Jameis Winston in the 2024 offseason and trading cornerback Marshon Lattimore in November.