NFL 2023 – The Cap Cost of Winning & Losing

Now that we have looked at how team allocate their salary caps based on position and unit, let’s take a look at who is getting the most value for the cap spend. With the exception of the Expected Points (EXP) columns, lower numbers are better in all cases when it comes to bang for the buck.

Read More: NFL 2023 – Team Cap Costs By Position

Again we are looking at NFL teams as businesses.  Their production in a stat is a product, and a combination of products is a unit(Offense & Defense).  So now we are looking at which teams are getting the most value in the given stats BASED ON THEIR CAP SPEND.

For all offensive stats with the exception of sacks & EXP, the cost is simply in dollars per unit of the statistic. Thus the dollar value you see in the PF column is the cost per Point For.

For sacks, this metric is calculated like defensive metrics since giving up less is better.  For EXP the formula is (1,000,000*EXP)/(offense cost)

For all defensive stats with the exception of EXP, the value is the product of the stat multiplied by the respective cost, divided by 10,000,000,000.  Essentially all we are doing is sliding the decimal over 10 spaces to the left to make the numbers smaller for comparisons and reading sake.

For sacks & pressures, a higher number is better.  For EXP the formula is (1,000,000*EXP)/(offense cost)

NFL Team Cap Spend

• NKS Cap – The Non Kicker-Specialist Cap is the amount each team has spent on offensive and defensive players.
• Offense – The total amount spent of offensive players
• OFF Passing – The sum of: 75% of QB, 100% of WR, 100% of TE, 50% of OL
• OFF Rushing – The sum of: 25% QB, 100 % RB, 50% OL
• Defense – The total amount spent on defensive players
• DEF Passing – The sum of:   25%IDL, 75% EDGE, 50% LB, 50% S
• DEF Rushing – The sum of: 75% IDL, 25% EDGE, 50% LB, 50% S, 100% CB

NFL Offensive Production Cap Spend

• EXP (offense cost) – Expected Points  [(1,000,000*EP)/Offense Cost] (The EXP columns higher value is better)
• PF (offense cost) – Cost per point scored
• Yds (offense cost) – Cost per yard gained
• Pass yds (OFF Passing cost) – Cost per passing yard
• Pass TDs (OFF Passing cost) – Cost per Passing TD
• Sacks (OFF Passing cost) – Offensive sacks are calculated like defensive metrics since giving up a lower amount of sacks is better.  (OFF Passing Cost * Sacks ) / 10,000,000,000
• Rush Yds (OFF Rushing Cost) – Cost per rushing yard
• Rush TDs (OFF Rushing Cost) – Cost per rushing TD

NFL Defensive Production Cap Spend

• EXP (defense cost) – Expected Points (The EXP columns higher value is better)
• PA (defense cost) – Points Against [(Defense Cost * PA) / 10,000,000,000]
• Yds (defense cost) – Yards Allowed [(Defense Cost * Yds) / 10,000,000,000]
• Pass yds (DEF Passing cost) – Passing yard [(DEF Passing Cost * Pass Yds) / 10,000,000,000]
• Pass TDs (DEF Passing cost) – Passing TD Against [(DEF Passing Cost * Pass TDs) / 10,000,000,000]
• Sacks (DEF Passing cost) – Defensive sacks  [(DEF Passing Cost * Sacks ) / 10,000,000,000] (Higher is better)
• Pressures (DEF Passing cost) – Defensive sacks  [(DEF Passing Cost * Pressures ) / 10,000,000,000] (Higher is better)
• Rush Yds (DEF Rushing Cost) – Rushing yards allowed [(DEF Rushing Cost * Rush Yds) / 10,000,000,000]
• Rush TDs (DEF Rushing Cost) – Rushing TD allowed [(DEF Rushing Cost * Rush TDs) / 10,000,000,000]

Offensive Cap Spend Highs & Lows

Expected Points 0.20

• Best – 49ers 2.57
• Worst – Panthers -1.58

Points For $344.9k per point

• Best – 49ers $188k
• Worst – Patriots $533k

Yards $22k per yard

• Best – 49ers $13.7k
• Worst – Broncos $29k

Pass Yards $22.4k per pass yard

• Best – Packers $12.7k
• Worst – Broncos $33.2k

Pass TDs $3.8m per pass TD

• Best – Packers $1.6m
• Worst – Jets $7.1m

Sacks Allowed 0.21

• Best – Packers 0.10
• Worst – Giants 0.39

Rushing Yards $21.9k per rush yard

• Best – 49ers $11.4k
• Worst – Bengals $35.8k

Rushing TDs $6.6m per rush TD

• Best – 49ers $942k
• Worst – Broncos $16m

Defensive Cap Spend Highs & Lows

Expected Points -0.26

• Best – Ravens 1.11
• Worst – Cardinals -1.67

Points Against 2.38

• Best – Rams 1.50
• Worst – Chargers 3.51

Yards Allowed 36.35

• Best – Rams 22.86
• Worst – Chargers 53.43

Pass Yards Allowed 14.47

• Best – Rams 4.74
• Worst – Jaguars 22.35

Pass TDs Allowed 0.09

• Best – Rams 0.03
• Worst – Eagles 0.153

Sacks  0.17

• Best – Bills 0.30
• Worst – Rams .0786

Pressures  0.56

• Best – Bills 0.90
• Worst – Rams 0.39

Rushing Yards Allowed 4.95

• Best – Eagles 2.99
• Worst – Steelers 7.46

Rushing TDs Allowed 0.04

• Best – Ravens 0.01
• Worst – Panthers 0.08