Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Trade Deadline • Franchise Tag • Team Revenue

Cap Hit

Term from Professional Sports industry explained for recruiters

A Cap Hit is the amount of money that counts against a team's salary cap for a player's contract in professional sports. The salary cap is the maximum amount of money teams can spend on player salaries. Think of it like a budget limit that all teams must follow to keep competition fair. When people mention "Cap Hit" in resumes or job descriptions, they're talking about managing these player costs within the team's budget. This term is especially common in the NFL, NHL, and NBA, where salary caps are strictly enforced. Other similar terms include "salary cap charge," "cap figure," or "cap number."

Examples in Resumes

Managed roster transactions while staying under budget by analyzing Cap Hit implications

Negotiated player contracts to minimize Cap Hit impact on team's salary structure

Created financial models to project future Cap Hit scenarios for multi-year planning

Typical job title: "Salary Cap Analysts"

Also try searching for:

Cap Analyst Sports Financial Analyst Player Personnel Coordinator Contract Administrator Football Operations Analyst Hockey Operations Analyst Basketball Operations Analyst

Where to Find Salary Cap Analysts

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Industry Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you structure a contract to minimize cap hit while still attracting top talent?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of bonus structures, contract timing, and creative ways to spread cap impact across multiple years while maintaining competitive player compensation.

Q: How do you plan for future salary cap implications when making current roster decisions?

Expected Answer: Should explain methods for projecting future cap space, considering rookie contracts, veteran minimums, and potential salary cap increases while maintaining roster flexibility.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors affect a player's cap hit calculation?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain base salary, bonuses, incentives, and how different contract structures impact the overall cap hit.

Q: How does the timing of player releases or trades affect cap hit?

Expected Answer: Should understand concepts like dead money, post-June 1 designations, and how transaction timing impacts current and future cap space.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the difference between a player's salary and their cap hit?

Expected Answer: Should explain that cap hit includes more than just salary - it's the total amount charged against the team's salary cap, including bonuses and other incentives.

Q: How do signing bonuses affect cap hit?

Expected Answer: Should understand that signing bonuses are typically prorated over the length of the contract for cap purposes, even if paid upfront.