Falcons GM Ian Cunningham Gets Early Gift as NFL Salary Cap Set to Surge in 2026
Ian Cunningham hasn’t even had time to settle into his new office in Flowery Branch, and already the Falcons’ new general manager is getting a major assist from the league office. Just days into his tenure, Cunningham learned that the NFL is projecting a significant bump in the 2026 salary cap - a development that could reshape Atlanta’s offseason strategy in a big way.
According to the league’s projections, the 2026 salary cap is expected to land somewhere between $301.2 million and $305.7 million per team. That’s a hefty jump from the current $279.2 million figure, and nearly a $100 million increase from where the cap stood just four years ago in 2022. For a team like the Falcons, sitting in a pivotal moment of roster construction, that extra breathing room couldn’t come at a better time.
More Room to Maneuver
Before the cap update, Atlanta was working with roughly $17.4 million in available space. Now, with the new projections, that figure could balloon to around $35 million - and that’s before factoring in any potential roster cuts, restructures, or backloaded deals that could free up even more cash.
For a first-time GM like Cunningham, that expanded financial flexibility is a game-changer. He inherits a roster that’s already competitive in the NFC South, but with several key contributors set to hit free agency, the challenge was always going to be about retention and strategic upgrades. Now, he has a bit more room to do both.
Key Decisions on the Horizon
Among the Falcons’ most pressing offseason questions: how to handle a group of impending free agents that includes Kaden Elliss and Kyle Pitts, along with Dee Alford, Tyler Allgeier, Leonard Floyd, David Onyemata, and Arnold Ebiketie. That’s a mix of veteran leadership, emerging talent, and reliable depth - and keeping all of them simply isn’t realistic, even with the cap boost.
Pitts is likely a franchise tag candidate, but that’s just the beginning. Bijan Robinson and Drake London are also due for long-term contract discussions, and while those deals may not hit the books right away, they’re looming large in the front office’s planning.
And let’s not forget the draft. Atlanta will need to earmark a portion of that cap space for its 2026 rookie class, which means some of that newfound flexibility will be spoken for before free agency even begins.
A Softened Landing for a First-Time GM
This is the kind of offseason that can define a general manager’s early tenure - especially one stepping into a franchise that’s been teetering on the edge of contention. Cunningham won’t be able to keep everyone, and he knows it. But having more money to work with means he can be more selective with who he retains, more aggressive in identifying outside help, and more strategic in building out the bottom half of the roster.
Depth signings at the league minimum will still be part of the plan, but the Falcons aren’t stuck choosing between one big splash or keeping a key starter. Now, they can explore both - or at least a more balanced version of that equation.
Cunningham, along with head coach Kevin Stefanski and president of football operations Terry Fontenot, will form the brain trust tasked with navigating these decisions. They’ll have to prioritize, negotiate, and, at times, let go of talented players. But the expanded cap gives them a better shot at building a roster that can make real noise in the NFC - not just this year, but for seasons to come.
The Falcons have been building toward something. With a new GM in place and more money to spend, the next chapter might come sooner than expected.