Trying to figure out the NFL salary cap is just as tough as figuring out what is considered a catch. When dealing with the offseason, the most important item to consider is the Top 51 rule. Only the top 51 player salaries count against the salary cap. This list only includes players under contract. The Steelers have started offering tenders and signing their exclusive rights free agents (ERFA). For now, I do list Martavis Bryant, as I believe he will be reinstated. Here are answers to common questions regarding the cap or just for a refresher. The 11 reserve/future contracts that have been signed do not count towards the cap until the new league year starts on March 9th. For most, the cap hit will likely fall outside of the Top 51 with salaries around $465,000.
While you might be thrilled with the cap number, it is only for 39 players that are under contract. The Steelers still have costly UFA players along with RFA players to sign. Also not included is the draft class of 8 players that will total over $5 million towards the cap.
NFL projected cap number – $168 million
Carryover from 2016 season – $3,269,367
Top 51 (39 under contract) – $127,030,435
Dead money – $2,395,222
Current cap space -- $41,843,710
Player | Salary (Guaranteed) | Prorated Bonus | Roster Bonus | Workout Bonus | Cap number | Dead money | Cap savings |
Ben Roethlisberger | $12,000,000 | $6,200,000 | $0 | $0 | $18,200,000 | $18,600,000 | -$400,000 |
Antonio Brown | $4,710,000 | $8,908,334 | $0 | $0 | $13,618,334 | $8,908,334 | $4,710,000 |
Maurkice Pouncey | $7,500,000 | $3,551,000 | $0 | $0 | $11,051,000 | $8,053,000 | $2,998,000 |
David DeCastro | $1,100,000 | $3,200,000 | $6,750,000 | $0 | $11,050,000 | $12,800,000 | -$1,750,000 |
Cameron Heyward | $5,000,000 | $2,400,000 | $3,000,000 | $0 | $10,400,000 | $7,200,000 | $3,200,000 |
Mike Mitchell | $5,000,000 | $3,135,416 | $0 | $0 | $8,135,416 | $6,270,834 | $1,864,582 |
Marcus Gilbert | $4,000,000 | $3,258,500 | $0 | $50,000 | $7,308,500 | $8,245,500 | -$937,000 |
Ladarius Green | $5,000,000 | $1,187,500 | $0 | $0 | $6,187,500 | $3,562,500 | $2,625,000 |
Ramon Foster | $2,675,000 | $916,666 | $0 | $0 | $3,591,666 | $1,833,334 | $1,758,332 |
Ryan Shazier | $1,716,438 ($1,716,438) |
$1,308,582 | $0 | $0 | $3,025,020 | $3,025,020 | $0 |
Arthur Moats | $2,250,000 | $633,334 | $0 | $0 | $2,883,334 | $633,334 | $2,250,000 |
William Gay | $2,000,000 | $633,333 | $0 | $0 | $2,633,333 | $1,266,667 | $1,366,666 |
Bud Dupree | $1,273,390 ($1,273,390) |
$1,241,779 | $0 | $0 | $2,515,169 | $4,859,948 | -$2,344,779 |
Vince Williams | $2,000,000 | $500,000 | $0 | $0 | $2,500,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,500,000 |
Ryan Harris | $1,900,000 | $337,500 | $0 | $0 | $2,237,500 | $337,500 | $1,900,000 |
Artie Burns | $885,954 ($885,954) |
$1,293,815 | $0 | $0 | $2,179,769 | $6,089,307 | -$3,909,538 |
Justin Gilbert | $970,023 ($2,170,023) |
$0 | $1,200,000 | $0 | $2,170,023 | $2,170,023 | $0 |
Robert Golden | $1,465,000 | $416,666 | $0 | $0 | $1,881,666 | $833,334 | $1,048,332 |
Stephon Tuitt | $1,048,560 | $418,081 | $0 | $0 | $1,466,641 | $418,081 | $1,048,560 |
Darrius Heyward-Bey | $1,200,000 | $133,333 | $0 | $0 | $1,333,333 | $266,667 | $1,066,666 |
Senquez Golson | $798,732 | $292,462 | $0 | $0 | $1,091,194 | $584,924 | $506,270 |
Sean Davis | $635,771 ($508,617) |
$293,085 | $0 | $0 | $928,856 | $1,387,872 | -$459,016 |
Martavis Bryant | $690,000 | $109,805 | $0 | $0 | $799,805 | $109,805 | $690,000 |
Sammie Coates | $615,000 | $157,879 | $0 | $0 | $772,879 | $315,758 | $457,121 |
Javon Hargrave | $560,000 | $173,314 | $0 | $0 | $733,314 | $519,942 | $213,372 |
Daniel McCullers | $690,000 | $19,670 | $0 | $0 | $709,670 | $19,670 | $690,000 |
Zach Mettenberger | $690,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $690,000 | $0 | $690,000 |
Jesse James | $615,000 | $52,228 | $0 | $0 | $667,228 | $104,456 | $562,772 |
Leterrius Walton | $615,000 | $29,232 | $0 | $0 | $644,232 | $58,464 | $585,768 |
Jordan Berry | $615,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $615,000 | $0 | $615,000 |
Roosevelt Nix | $615,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $615,000 | $0 | $615,000 |
Jerald Hawkins | $465,000 | $132,622 | $0 | $0 | $597,622 | $397,866 | $199,756 |
Tyler Matakevich | $540,000 | $15,763 | $0 | $0 | $555,763 | $47,289 | $508,474 |
Eli Rogers | $540,000 | $1,668 | $0 | $0 | $541,668 | $1,668 | $540,000 |
Canaan Severin | $540,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $540,000 | $0 | $540,000 |
DeMarcus Ayers | $540,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $540,000 | $0 | $540,000 |
Cobi Hamilton | $540,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $540,000 | $0 | $540,000 |
Al-Hajj Shabazz | $540,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $540,000 | $0 | $540,000 |
Johnny Maxey | $540,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $540,000 | $0 | $540,000 |
Player | Dead Money |
Shaun Suisham | 2,206,000 |
Travis Feeney | 75,267 |
Demarcus Ayers | 59,739 |
Jordan Zumwalt | 26,213 |
Tyric McCord | 4,667 |
Quinton Schooley | 2,667 |
Jay Rome | 1,334 |