We are now in the final stretch of days heading into the 2025 NFL free agency period.

It’s not necessarily considered a strong free-agency class, but teams still have needs to be filled, leading to a significant amount of player contracts being established.

For most teams, the landscape of who will be hitting the market is clear, highlighting which teams have the budget for spending and those who do not. In this article, we will address the teams that lack significant financial flexibility.

The New Orleans Saints have eased their cap burden by restructuring Derek Carr’s contract. Carr is expected to receive around $40 million owed this year to facilitate further budgetary flexibility.

Teams with the Least Cap Space

1. Buffalo Bills

   • The Bills were approximately $8 million above the cap before restructuring Greg Rousseau’s contract. They can alleviate more cap pressure by restructuring Josh Allen’s deal, which is set to account for around $44.7 million against the cap, potentially reducing it to about $33.6 million.

2. Atlanta Falcons

   • The Falcons could save about $10 million by restructuring Chris Lindstrom’s contract. They might benefit from trading Kirk Cousins after June 1 to mitigate the cap impact.

3. Kansas City Chiefs

   • A long-term deal for Trey Smith instead of utilizing the franchise tag would reduce his cap hit and allow for better financial maneuvering by the Chiefs.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

   • Though they have approximately $5 million in cap space, restructuring Tristan Wirfs’s contract could significantly enhance their financial situation.

5. Houston Texans

   • The Texans may consider designating Shaq Mason for a post-June 1 release, presenting some financial advantages.

6. Baltimore Ravens

   • Restructuring Lamar Jackson’s deal, which is estimated at $43.7 million, can yield around $15.8 million in savings to bolster their budget.

7. Cleveland Browns

   • The Browns could restructure contracts for defensive backs to address cap issues. A Myles Garrett trade would only relieve cap stress post-June 1.

8. Philadelphia Eagles

   • With recent actions to designate Darius Slay for a post-June 1 release, they can create additional room for next season without losing key pieces.

9. Carolina Panthers

   • Extending Jaycee Horn or releasing Jadeveon Clowney would give them much-needed financial room to maneuver during free agency.