How Does Rumored NFL Salary Cap Increase Impact The Browns In 2024?

Reporting suggests the NFL salary cap for 2024 could grow by more than the league initially anticipated.

Pro Football Talk was among the outlets providing updates over the weekend on the rumored increase of this year's NFL Salary Cap. 

Initial estimations accounted for the cap to jump to $243 million, which would be an increase of just under $20 million from the $224.8 million cap limit this past season. While Pro Football Talk references that several sources are expecting that initial $243 million figure, another source indicated it could be closer to $250 million.

A jump that massive would come close to the largest single-year jump in salary cap in NFL history. The current record is $25.7 million increase between the 2021-2022 seasons.

4 Burning Browns Questions, Including How They'll Handle Jack Conklin's Return?

Any increase in the salary cap serves to benefit a team like the Browns who, according to Spotrac – are currently expected to be more than $20 million over the lower estimation of the 2024 cap. But an increase of an additional $7-8 million would help the franchise navigate a hefty roster bill even further.

Browns VP of Football operations and general manager Andrew Berry has showcased his ability to creatively navigate the salary cap in the offseason. Around this time last year, Berry exercised contract restructures for Myles Garrett, Deshaun Watson, Joel Bitonio, David Njoku, which helped him create enough cap space for much of the team's offseason plans. He added Jed Wills to the list later in the summer.

Nov 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) calls out to teammates before the snap against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports

This offseason should bring a similar plan from Berry as he prepares for free agency. Watson's $63 million cap hit – which represents the highest cap hit of any player in the NFL currently – may not be among the reworked deals this time around.

A couple weeks back, Berry himself told The Athletic that the Browns don't necessarily feel like they absolutely have to restructure Watson's deal. That doesn't mean they won't but in a year with a massive cap jump it may behoove Cleveland to bite the bullet and clear a lofty chunk of Watson's deal off the books.

NFL Insider Suggests Browns Are Likely To Open 2024 Season In Brazil

As part of last year's restructure the Browns added a voidable year to Watson's deal, pushing $8.9 million into 2027, when the signal caller will no longer be under contract. While the Browns hope to add an extension to Watson's deal at some point, he hasn't been nearly consistent enough between the suspension in 2022 and injuries this past season to warrant one.

Clearing $63 million off of the $230 million, fully-guaranteed deal he signed upon being traded to Cleveland could go a long way toward giving the the team more flexibility in the later years of his deal, and beyond. If the NFL's salary cap really is set to jump to $250 million, it makes the decision of eating Watson's cap number that much easier.