Saints $52M over cap for 2025, set for major relief in 2026

By Ross Jackson

It would not be an NFL offseason without a story about how far the New Orleans Saints are over the salary cap. However, this year, things are a little different. While the Saints are currently projected to be more than $52 million over the limits for 2025, the light is visible at the end of the overage tunnel.

Former Saints linebacker Scott Shanle provided additional, and important, context around the topic which has become a media favorite year after year.

This is an issue but an issue that needs perspective. 👇
2025 – 52 million over the cap

2026 – 60 million under the cap 💰
2027 – 221 million under the cap💰

If you a young guy on the #Saints roster it’s time to ball out! 🤑 https://t.co/alvOB6nNwI

— Scott Shanle⁵⁸ (@scottshanle) January 23, 2025

Following the same salary cap projection model, New Orleans is currently more than $60 million below the limit in 2026 and set to be more than $221 million below the year after that. Those figures will shift and change when the salary cap for each year becomes solidified. For now, those are all based on projected limits.

In any case, the Saints are almost out of the woods. And the best part of that news for fans is that even if New Orleans were to go back to restructuring deals this offseason, the funds that are set to open in future years would absorb the additional deferments. 

Things are finally getting manageable again for the Saints, who are set to flip their coaching staff this offseason and follow with shifts across the roster over the next few seasons.