Several projections have emerged about where the 2017 NFL salary cap will end up after years of rapid growth. The latest figure will represent a double-digit spike from 2016. The latest range projection has the figure settling in between $166-$169MM, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.
This continues the trend in estimations pointing to a near-$170MM per-team ceiling. As recently as December, reports had the cap stopping shy of a $10MM rise, but the latest indications are another noticeable increase will be on tap.
Should it surpass $167.17MM, 2017 will mark the largest one-year growth in the cap era. Last year’s increase — from $143.28MM in 2015 to $155.27MM — represents the most substantial climb. Here’s what the league’s salary cap has looked like over the last few years:
- 2013: $123MM
- 2014: $133MM
- 2015: $143.28MM
- 2016: $155.27MM
But prior to 2013, the cap hadn’t increased by more than $10MM since between the 1997 and ’98 seasons, when it jumped from $41.5MM to $52.4MM. Following the uncapped year of 2010, the 2011 cap actually plummeted from its previous mark, regressing from $129MM in 2009 to $120MM in 2011. It remained at $120MM in 2012 before entering this era of substantial growth.
The official cap number will entrench franchise and transition tag figures for the coming season. CBS Sports’ Joel Corry projected those aforementioned numbers for a $168MM cap.