Free NFL Analytics Platform — A Directory of Our Hubs
StickToTheModel is a free NFL analytics platform organized around a few core hubs. Each hub is the home for a specific category of NFL coverage — pick the one that matches what you're looking for. No signup required.
Our Hubs
Mock Draft Simulator — The simulator hub. 7-round NFL mock drafts with trades, AI opponents, and instant grades.
NFL GM Simulator — The GM mode hub. Manage salary cap, cuts, trades, franchise tags, and the draft for any team.
2026 Draft Prospect Hub — Big board, scouting reports, combine measurables, and team visit tracker.
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Our platform offers data-driven NFL analysis with tools for draft preparation, fantasy football, and player research. All core features are free with daily updates during the NFL season.
The platform serves fantasy football players, NFL Draft enthusiasts, dynasty league managers, sports bettors, content creators, and casual fans exploring NFL statistics.
Cap Hit: NFL Definition
A player's cap hit is the total amount charged against the salary cap in a given year. It includes base salary, prorated signing bonus, roster bonuses, and other compensation.
Full Explanation
A player's cap hit represents the full accounting charge against the team's salary cap for that league year. It is the sum of multiple components: base salary, the prorated portion of any signing bonus, roster bonuses, option bonuses, workout bonuses, and any likely-to-be-earned incentives. Understanding cap hit is essential because it often differs significantly from a player's actual cash compensation in a given year.
For example, when Patrick Mahomes signed his 10-year, $450 million extension with the Chiefs, his cap hit in the first few years was relatively modest because of how his signing bonus was prorated across the deal. As the contract progresses, his cap hits escalate. This is a common structure called a "backloaded" contract, where teams push cap charges into future years to create short-term flexibility. Conversely, a "frontloaded" contract concentrates cap charges early.
Cap hit also matters when a team considers cutting or trading a player. If a player is cut, only the dead money (typically remaining prorated bonus) stays on the books. If a player is traded, the acquiring team takes on the remaining base salary and any new bonuses, while the original team retains the dead money. This is why high-cap-hit players with large signing bonuses can be difficult to move, as the original team may eat a massive dead money charge.
Category: Salary Cap. Part of the StickToTheModel NFL Encyclopedia.