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.
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.
Dak Prescott's cap hit for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025 was over $89 million, the largest single-season cap hit in NFL history, driven by his 4-year, $240 million extension.
Cap Hit = Base Salary + Prorated Signing Bonus + Roster Bonus + Other Bonuses + LTBE Incentives
Category: Salary Cap. Part of the StickToTheModel NFL Encyclopedia.