Far more important than the annual salary cap is the actual cash spent each year, by every team. Last year, with the cap at $167 million, half of the teams spent more than the cap, and another half of the teams were under it.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, teams collectively spent $5.274 billion in 2017, an average of 98.69-percent of the total cap. The highest spenders were the Lions, at $204.46 million, or 122.4 percent of the cap.
At the other end were the Cowboys, who spent only $115.65 million. That’s only 69.26 percent of the cap.
The difference between cash and cap comes from prorated bonuses paid out in past year (for those currently spending under the cap in cash spending) or prorated bonuses paid out in the current year (for those currently spending over it).
Here’s the full list of cash spent in 2017:
1. Lions, $204.46 million (122.4 percent).
2. Panthers, $198.76 million (119.02 percent).
3. Packers, $183.23 million (109.72 percent).
4. Jaguars, $181.44 million (108.65 percent).
5. Dolphins, $179.43 million (107.44 percent).
6. Bears, $179.23 million (107.32 percent).
7. Browns, $177.1 million (106.05 percent).
8. 49ers, $174.57 million (104.53 percent).
9. Falcons, $173.88 million (104.12 percent).
10. Washington, $173.78 million (104.06 percent).
11. Raiders, $173.29 million (103.76 percent).
12. Vikings, $172.86 million (103.51 percent).
13. Eagles, $170.64 million (102.18 percent).
14. Patriots, $168.97 million (101.18 percent).
15. Seahawks, $168.61 million (100.96 percent).
16. Cardinals, $167.86 million (100.51 percent).
17. Steelers, $165.07 million (98.85 percent).
18. Titans, $164.24 million (98.35 percent).
19. Giants, $162.64 million (97.39 percent).
20. Bengals, $160.81 million (96.29 percent).
21. Chargers, $160.58 million (96.15 percent).
22. Rams, $159.2 million (95.33 percent).
23. Buccaneers, $156.87 million (93.93 percent).
24. Saints, $155.93 million (93.37 percent).
25. Broncos, $152.55 million (91.35 percent).
26. Bills, $150.59 million (90.15 percent).
27. Ravens, $149.28 million (89.39 percent).
28. Texans, $144.04 million (86.25 percent).
29. Colts, $143.41 million (85.88 percent).
30. Jets, $143.08 million (85.68 percent).
31. Chiefs, $141.99 million (85.02 percent).
32. Cowboys, $115.657 million (69.26 percent).