NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently hinted at growing tension behind the scenes, as team owners express concern over the ballooning structure of the league’s salary cap and the escalating amounts of cash being paid to players. In his remarks following the owners meetings in Minneapolis, Goodell acknowledged that the league spent “a lengthy discussion” examining the current cap system and whether its “integrity” is being upheld.
The comments, though vague, are revealing—and potentially signal a significant shift in the league’s financial structure in the years ahead.
What’s Driving Owner Frustration?
In recent years, NFL player contracts have reached unprecedented heights. Nearly every month, a new deal sets a record in guaranteed money or average annual value. This rapid escalation, while beneficial for players, has raised red flags for owners, especially those in less cash-rich franchises.
At the heart of the issue is how teams manipulate the salary cap using tools like void years—a practice once rare, but now commonplace. Void years allow teams to spread signing bonuses over artificial “extra” years of a contract that the player will likely never play under. This reduces the immediate cap hit, enabling teams to fit more talent under the cap today by pushing financial obligations into the future.
Franchises like the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns have embraced this strategy aggressively, leveraging their owners’ cash flexibility. Meanwhile, smaller-market teams like the Cincinnati Bengals, who historically avoid void years, find themselves at a structural disadvantage. When wide receivers like DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, and Brandon Aiyuk sign contracts worth $28–$30 million per year—helped along by clever cap structuring—teams like the Bengals face immense pressure to match those figures without the same financial tools.
This disparity, some owners argue, undermines the fairness of the current cap system.
Could Changes Come Before the Next CBA?
While the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) runs through 2030, changes aren’t out of the question. The league and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) can renegotiate at any time—though any overhaul would require cooperation from both sides.
The NFL has a history of altering its systems when owner sentiment shifts. In 2011, for example, the league overhauled the rookie wage scale after high-profile draft picks like Sam Bradford and Matthew Stafford were receiving massive contracts without proving themselves on the field. Under the new CBA at the time, rookie deals became slotted, significantly curbing costs for unproven players.
The same kind of shift could now be coming for contract structuring and salary cap loopholes.
What Might Be on the Table?
- Tighter regulation of void years, or even the elimination of their usage.
- Stricter escrow rules for guaranteed money, to level the playing field between wealthy and less liquid owners.
- Adjustments to the cap growth formula, potentially reducing the inflationary effect of soaring broadcast and media revenues.
Another element in play is the league’s quiet push for an 18-game regular season, a topic that’s re-emerging as both a negotiating chip and a financial incentive for owners and the league.
What’s Next?
The NFLPA faces new leadership and internal transitions, adding further uncertainty. Their new executive director, Lloyd Howell, comes from a business background, and his approach to negotiations remains to be seen. With the NFL showing early signs of preparing for CBA-related battles ahead of schedule, the union must be ready to protect player earnings and negotiate from a position of strength.
While a lockout or major labor dispute remains a distant threat, recent history shows that when owners begin publicly discussing “fairness” and “system integrity,” major change is often on the horizon.
For now, players and fans alike will watch to see if the NFL’s economic balance can withstand the weight of ever-growing contracts—or if another seismic shift is coming to the sport’s financial foundation.
