Salary cap and contract considerations are taking center stage as all NFL teams have entered the offseason with the Philadelphia Eagles beating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX. Choices made in the early part of the offseason can have long-lasting ramifications for teams.
Here’s a look at key offseason dates running through the first 10 days of the 2025 league year, which begins on March 12. Some dates have league-wide importance. Other dates can potentially affect specific player contracts and the salary cap of individual teams because they are crucial to the timing of contract restructures, pay cuts and players being released. The NFL’s most notable players have been highlighted on the appropriate date with how the event is specified in their respective contracts. Less-heralded players are only mentioned on dates without a lot of activity.
Feb. 10 (First day after 2024 league year Super Bowl)
1. The waiver system for 2025 began. Players with fewer than four years of service for benefit purposes are subject to waivers and their contracts can be claimed by other teams. Players with four or more years of service become free agents when released and can be immediately signed.
2. Two key Bills had guarantees vest. The remaining $6.571 million of offensive tackle Spencer Brown’s $18.971 million 2025 base salary became fully guaranteed. The $18.971 million was guaranteed for injury at signing, of which $12.4 million was completely secure when the contract was executed. Brown’s 2025 base salary will reduce to a fully guaranteed $2.971 million if the Bills exercise an option for his dummy 2030 contract year. This can be done as early as the first day of the 2025 league year on March 12 but no later than the seventh day (March 18). A $16 million payment is required to pick up the option. Exactly $8.75 million of tight end Dawson Knox’s $9.25 million 2025 base salary was guaranteed for…
..
