The 2016 NFL Salary Cap has been announced, as it has again increased from its previous limit to a new cap set at $155.27 million.
According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the 2016 NFL Salary Cap has been set at $155.27 million. This is an 8.36% increase from the NFL Salary Cap during the 2015 season set at $143.28 million.
Source: The 2016 @NFL salary cap was just set at $155.27M.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2016
While roughly a $9 million increase doesn’t seem like a huge increase to the 2016 NFL Salary Cap, this certainly helps teams with almost no cap room like the Buffalo Bills, the Miami Dolphins, the New Orleans Saints, and the Baltimore Ravens.
These four teams had less than $10 million to operate in 2016 free agency under the old salary cap of $143.28 million. So perhaps teams like the Ravens can sign a free agent or two after all?
This increase to the 2016 NFL Salary Cap gives teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Oakland Raiders, and the Chicago Bears plenty of money to spend on prospective free agents. Jacksonville and Oakland had over $70 million in cap space and with this new adjustment, it would put Chicago all most at that threshold. Expect all three of those teams to be huge players in free agency this spring.
The increase in the salary cap was largely expected, as it continues to climb as the nationwide going on worldwide phenomenon that is the NFL grows with every passing season. For as much flak as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has received in terms of domestic violence and other judgement related issues, the guy can run a successful business.
The NFL is as big as it has ever been and the $9 million increase to the 2016 NFL Salary Cap will allow all 32 teams to spend a bit more cash on prospective free agents. Maybe that additional $9 million can keep a guy on a team without having to take a hometown discount?