The NFL will officially announce the 2017 salary cap next March, but in the meantime, leaks are offering up some suggestions about what we can expect. Adam Schefter is reporting the league plans on informing teams this week that the 2017 cap is expected to be between $163 million and $165 million. That would mean as much as a $10 million increase from this year’s $155.27 million salary cap.
Over The Cap has been projecting a salary cap of $166 million for 2017. Jason Hurley has projected a $168 million salary cap. Both are above what Schefter is reporting, but Schefter’s report also said, “The first figures presented typically come in lower than the actual cap, which helps keep teams' expectations in line.”
Former agent Joel Corry offered up some additional information that suggests the cap could be higher than expected.
Salary cap has come in 3.25-3.5% higher than lower end of projections last 2 years. If same is true this time, 2017 cap will be above $168M.
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) December 11, 2016
The NFL will have meetings later this week, and we’ll hear about more meetings through the Super Bowl and into the spring. I imagine we’ll hear various leaks from the owners’ side, and then that will be followed by leaks from the NFLPA.
Whatever the number ends up at, the 49ers will have plenty of cap space. The 49ers have approximately $42 million in cap space right now they can roll over into 2017. That number will change once we get a better idea of Vance McDonald’s contract. They are projected at approximately $46 million in cap space for next season, not including the roll over. Even if the cap ends up at the low end of Schefter’s report, they would have somewhere around at least $85 million in cap space if they roll over their entire current cap space. Again, pending the Vance McDonald contract.
The 2017 season marks the start of the new spending period for the minimum cash spend rule. The 49ers met the 2013-2016 spending rule, and it now resets for 2017-2020. I’m curious to see how much of McDonald’s extension is paid out now, vs. next year when the new cash spend period kicks in.