{"id":293657,"date":"2026-07-27T13:30:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T17:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=293657"},"modified":"2026-07-27T13:12:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T17:12:32","slug":"falcons-salary-cap-hits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/07\/27\/falcons-salary-cap-hits\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Atlanta Falcons Salary Cap Hits: Lindstrom and Bates Combine for $50 Million in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Atlanta Falcons’ salary cap hits for 2026 are topped by Chris Lindstrom, <\/a>who leads Atlanta with a cap hit of $26.25 million, 8.72% of the Falcons’ cap this season.<\/p>\n

The NFL Salary Cap for the 2026 season rose to an all-time high of $301.2 million. This is an increase of $22 million from the 2025<\/a> season. The NFL’s salary cap has increased by nearly $46 million in the last two seasons.<\/p>\n

The salary cap hit is a combination of salary, signing bonus money, and roster and workout bonuses. Salary counts in the year it was paid. Roster and workout bonuses count for the season they are earned. Signing bonuses can be divided equally among the years of the contract, up to five years. A big downfall of this bonus money is that if a player is waived or traded, any remaining bonus money that has not yet counted against the cap immediately accelerates to the team’s cap for the current season. This is commonly referred to as ‘dead money<\/a>.’<\/p>\n

Top Atlanta Falcons Salary Cap Hits in 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n

(Falcons among the NFL’s top 500 in 2026 salary)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
NAME<\/td>\nTEAM<\/td>\nPosition<\/td>\nSalary Cap Hit<\/td>\n% of Cap ($301.2M)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chris Lindstrom<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nGuard<\/td>\n$26,250,000<\/td>\n8.72%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jessie Bates III<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nSafety<\/td>\n$24,770,000<\/td>\n8.22%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jake Matthews<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nLeft Tackle<\/td>\n$16,773,713<\/td>\n5.57%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A.J. Terrell<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nCornerback<\/td>\n$13,500,000<\/td>\n4.48%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Divine Deablo<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nInside Linebacker<\/td>\n$8,920,000<\/td>\n2.96%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drake London<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nWide Receiver<\/td>\n$7,996,200<\/td>\n2.65%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bijan Robinson<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nRunning Back<\/td>\n$6,986,809<\/td>\n2.32%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Michael Penix Jr.<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nQuarterback<\/td>\n$6,240,719<\/td>\n2.07%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ryan Neuzil<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nCenter<\/td>\n$6,225,000<\/td>\n2.07%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charlie Woerner<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nTight End<\/td>\n$5,750,000<\/td>\n1.91%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mike Hughes<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nCornerback<\/td>\n$5,466,667<\/td>\n1.81%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jahan Dotson<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nWide Receiver<\/td>\n$5,000,000<\/td>\n1.66%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Matthew Bergeron<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nGuard<\/td>\n$4,806,451<\/td>\n1.60%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jalon Walker<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nEDGE\/Outside Linebacker<\/td>\n$4,673,266<\/td>\n1.55%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jawaan Taylor<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nRight Tackle<\/td>\n$4,625,000<\/td>\n1.54%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kyle Pitts<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAtlanta Falcons<\/a><\/td>\nTight End<\/td>\n$4,622,000<\/td>\n1.53%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Falcons have 15 players among the NFL’s 500 largest salary cap hits for 2026.\u00a0 The Falcons are top-heavy with money invested in offense, as ten of the 15 players are on the offensive side of the ball. The Falcons also have Tua Tagovailoa,<\/a> who Atlanta only owes $1.2 million this season, but counts on the Dolphins’ books<\/a> for a cap hit of over $56 million.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) celebrates with safety Jessie Bates III (3) after an interception against the New Orleans Saints in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Drake London, who recently signed a contract extension<\/a>, has a salary cap hit of just under $8 million for this season, but will count nearly $53 million on the cap in 2031. Bijan Robinson, still in his rookie deal, has a cap hit of just under $7 million. This jumps to over $11 million next season, which could be modified when Robinson inks a likely contract extension. Kyle Pitts has a cap hit of only $4.6 million, but carries massive dead cap hits of $36 million and $31.3 million for 2026 and 2027, respectively.<\/p>\n

Questions loom for the Falcons, for sure. In addition to wondering if Pitts should stay or go, and the likely choice to ink Robinson, Atlanta has huge issues at quarterback. Do they keep Michael Penix Jr and\/or Tua Tagovailoa beyond this season? Cut ties with both and use the cap savings to find a quarterback in the draft or free agency? Trade for someone like J.J. McCarthy?<\/p>\n

The biggest question mark, though, is what about Jessie Bates? If Bates is cut after the season, he would have a cap hit of just $7.5 million next season, which can be spread across three seasons. Would Atlanta want to keep the standout safety around, though, on a team-friendly contract for a few more seasons? Bates hasn’t shown signs of wearing down yet, but after the season, Atlanta will have a big decision to make.<\/p>\n

NFL Salary Cap for the 2017-2026 seasons<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
    \n
  • 2017:<\/strong> $167.0 million<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
    \n
      \n
    • 2018:<\/strong> $177.2 million<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
      \n
        \n
      • 2019:<\/strong> $188.2 million<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
        \n
          \n
        • 2020:<\/strong> $198.2 million<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
          \n
            \n
          • 2021:<\/strong> $182.5 million ( COVID)<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
            \n
              \n
            • 2022:<\/strong> $208.2 million<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
              \n
                \n
              • 2023:<\/strong> $224.8 million<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                \n
                  \n
                • 2024:<\/strong> $255.4 million<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                  \n
                    \n
                  • 2025:<\/strong> $279.2 million<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
                    \n
                      \n
                    • 2026:<\/span><\/strong> $301.2 million<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

                      <\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

                      Top Ten Atlanta Falcons Salary Cap Hits: Total Guaranteed Money<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                      <\/td>\n\n
                      \n
                      Total Guaranteed<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Drake London<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n$99,871,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      A.J. Terrell<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n$65,800,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Chris Lindstrom<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n$48,202,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Jake Matthews<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n$38,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Jessie Bates III<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n$36,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Kyle Pitts<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n$36,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Michael Penix Jr.<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n$22,882,636<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Bijan Robinson<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n$21,958,535<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Jalon Walker<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n$20,562,370<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      James Pearce Jr.<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n$16,778,784<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                      <\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      Take a look at the Top Atlanta Falcons Salary Cap Hits in 2026, a summary of the team’s salary cap numbers, including guaranteed money owed.
                      \nEdit Snippet<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4925,"featured_media":294160,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[36,27,6431],"tags":[9548,35003,9034,9745,7312],"class_list":["post-293657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-news","category-falcons","category-nfl-teams","tag-bijan-robinson","tag-chris-lindstrom","tag-drake-london","tag-jessie-bates-iii","tag-kyle-pitts"],"modified_by":"Sue Levine","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4925"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=293657"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293657\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":294121,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293657\/revisions\/294121"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=293657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=293657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=293657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}