Mark Levin
Director, Salary Cap & Agent Administration
NFLPA
2020 Cash Spending
• 16 Clubs spent more than the $198.2m cap
• Highest Spenders (as of 1/27/21):
• Houston Texans ($244m)
• Philadelphia Eagles ($243m)
• LA Chargers ($230m)
• Lowest Spenders:
• Pittsburgh Steelers ($138m)
• New England Patriots ($149m)
• Jacksonville Jaguars ($158m)
• Signing Bonus amounts negotiated prior to end of 20 LY on March
17th count towards 2020 cash
2017-2020 Cash
Spending
• Second 4-year spending period in prior CBA
• As of 1/27/21, leaguewide spend was 103% ($24b total cash) of
the cap over the four years (CBA requirement is 95%).
• No team spent below the 89% spend requirement over the four
years
• Highest Spenders (as of 1/27/21):
• Atlanta Falcons ($821m)
• San Francisco 49ers ($814m)
• Green Bay Packers ($809m)
2017-2020 Cash
Spending
• Lowest Spenders:
• Kansas City Chiefs ($686m)
• Dallas Cowboys ($689m)
• New England Patriots ($698m)
• Signing Bonus amounts negotiated prior to end of 20 LY on March
17th count towards 2020 cash
2020 CBA
• Restricted Free Agent Qualifying Offer Amounts:
• No provision for amounts to go down even if cap goes down
• 2020 LY amounts were:
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$2.133m for ROFR
$2.133m for ROFR and Original Draft Choice Compensation
$3.259m for ROFR and 2nd Round Draft Choice Compensation
$4.641m for ROFR and 1st Round Draft Choice Compensation
• CBA provides for following increases for 21 LY:
• $50k to Original Draft Choice level ($2.183m)
• $125k to 2nd Round level ($3.384m)
• $125k to 1st Round level ($4.766m)
2020 CBA
• Proven Performance Escalator:
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2nd Round now included
Punters/Kickers/Snappers can qualify @ Pro Bowl level
61 players achieved PPE for 2021
One punter
16 2nd rounders
8 non-2nd rounders received level 2 or 3 amounts
2020 CBA
• Practice Squad Standard Elevations/Covid Replacements
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904 total elevations/replacements
468 unique players
689 standard elevations
215 Covid replacements
• Covid Amendments: Credited/Accrued Seasons for all Psquad players on
week 1 roster who were subsequently Active/Inactive one game
2020 CBA
• Designated for Return (DFR)
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Unlimited number of players per team
Only needed to sit out 3 games
238 players placed on DFR
217 were activated from DFR
16 remained on DFR at end of season
5 were terminated off of DFR
2021 Free Agency
• New Unrestricted Free Agency Dashboard on website
• Most positions show top 20 current players by APY
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Total Guarantee
Age as of 9/9/21
Accrued Seasons
Sign date
Contract length
Players on rookie contracts indicated
Expiring contracts indicated
2021 Free Agency
• New Unrestricted Free Agency Dashboard on website
• List of available 2021 UFA’s
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Prior team
Position
Accrued Seasons
Age as of 9/9/21
• Public/Private files (public has now salary data)
• Updated as players sign in free agency
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New Club
APY
Total Guarantee
Contract length
Sign date
2021 League Year
Calendar
• February 23-March 9th (4 PM EST)
• Franchise/Transition Designation Period
• March 17th @ 3:59:50 PM (EST)
• End of 2020 LY
• All teams must be under 21 LY cap
• Deadline for all tenders/qualifying offers
• March 17th @ 4 PM (EST)
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Start of 21 LY
Free Agency begins for both UFA and RFA
Trading period opens
Top 51 in effect
2021 League Year
Calendar
• April 5th
• Offseason workouts may begin for Clubs with new Head Coach
• April 19th
• Offseason workouts may begin for all other Clubs
• April 23rd
• Last day for a RFA to sign offer sheet
• April 28th
• Last day for prior Club to match any RFA offer sheet signed on 23 rd
• April 29th – May 1
• NFL Draft
• May 3
• Deadline to exercise 5th year (22 LY) options for 2018 1st Rounders