It’s cap crunch season.
With the official start of the 2026 NFL league year coming next week on Mar. 11 at 4 p.m. ET, the clock is ticking for teams to get under the salary cap, which is set at $301.2 million for the upcoming season.
Below, we look at the five teams that are most over the cap and examine how each can become compliant before next Wednesday.
Note: Salary numbers provided by Over The Cap.
Current amount over the cap: $56.13M
1. Restructure quarterback Dak Prescott ($30.96M saved)
2. Restructure wide receiver CeeDee Lamb ($19.03M)
3. Release safety Malik Hooker ($6.85M)
Owner Jerry Jones recently said he anticipates the Cowboys being active in free agency, but first, they must shed 2026 salary. Restructuring Prescott and Lamb, who have cap hits of $78.1M and $38.4M this season, respectively, would get the team close. But more would be needed.
Hooker, who turns 30 on April 2, is a logical consideration as a cap casualty after missing five games last season and doing little when healthy to improve arguably the league’s worst defense.
Current amount over the cap: $45.51M
1. Extend offensive tackle Brian O’Neill ($14.16M)
2. Restructure wide receiver Justin Jefferson ($18.02M)
The Vikings plan to release or trade running back Aaron Jones and defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, moves that will save the team $18.7 million. But that only shaves off a portion of the salary necessary to get under the cap.
Veteran lineman Brian O’Neill is set to play on an expiring contract in 2026 and possesses the team’s third-highest cap number ($23.1M). Jefferson ($38.99M) has the highest, but by converting a portion of his base salary into a signing bonus would lower his number to rough $21M and get Minnesota out of the red.
Current amount over the cap: $16.33M
1. Restructure quarterback Deshaun Watson ($35.76M)
It’s the curse that keeps inflicting harm. The Browns are still in no position to cut Watson, who has been among the league’s worst quarterbacks since being acquired from the Houston Texans in 2022. He has an absurd $80.72M cap number for the upcoming season, which can be cut nearly in half with a restructure, although that would just push more of his salary further into the future. As unappealing as that is, that’s Cleveland’s only option.
Current amount over the cap: $15.92
1. Extend edge-rusher Travon Walker ($11.18M)
2. Extend offensive guard Ezra Cleveland ($6.03M)
Walker, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, is set to play on his fifth-year rookie option in 2026 without signing an extension, which would put Jacksonville roughly $4M over the cap. Cleveland, also entering the final year of his contract, is worth an extension as one of the Jags’ best linemen.
Current amount over the cap: $10.66M
1. Restructure defensive end Chase Young ($10.89M)
The Saints have been the poster child of cap gymnastics for over a decade, but that tide is slowly beginning to change. New Orleans doesn’t need to do much to get under the cap, with a simple restructure of Young’s 2025 contract extension doing the trick.