After moving on from veteran quarterback Russell Wilson this spring, the Denver Broncos took on an NFL-record $85 million “dead money” salary cap hit. Of that total, $53 million counted against the team’s 2024 cap.
Consequently, the Broncos led the league with a total dead money cap hit north of $89 million this season. Despite being handicapped with a salary cap pinch, Denver made the playoffs this season with a 10-7 record, led by rookie quarterback Bo Nix.
After the team clinched a playoff berth, Broncos coach Sean Payton spoke about the team’s cap situation.
“I remember in the offseason talking with [Rams coach Sean] McVay and the year prior for them, they were 70 million in dead cap,” Payton said. “In other words, almost a third of your team’s budget for talent is unavailable. We had a joint practice with them, and they had a lot of young — I couldn’t tell you who the players were. Young undrafted players. It was impressive what they did that season and making it to the postseason.
“Sometimes those types of challenges [take] rolling up your sleeves. I think your players certainly do have a little bit of a chip when they see those initial prognostications or whatever. Then eventually when you’re in this long enough, you tune that stuff out because half those people don’t have a clue [about] what they’re talking about. Yes, who’s done this before with over 80 million [in dead cap] — all those things you think about. No one’s done that before. Let’s be the first one.”
The Denver #Broncos have made the playoffs despite a league-high $89M of total dead cap, and the largest single season dead cap hit in NFL history (Russell Wilson, $53M).
— Spotrac (@spotrac) January 5, 2025
It’s quite an impressive feat for Payton and Co., and with an estimated $53 million available in 2025 cap space, Denver could take another step forward next season.
