While everyone is expecting a 2014 NFL salary cap number of $133 million to be official announced at any time now, we are already starting to get some projections as to what the number could be in future years.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN on Twitter Friday, a source has told him the salary cap is projected to break $140 million in 2015 and $150 million by 2016.
Those numbers aren’t really that surprising being as starting in 2015 is when the new television deal revenue money was to kick in. In addition, it seems that whatever is projected initially winds up being way too conservative. For example, last year there were a lot of people saying the cap would likely remain flat in 2014, but here we are awaiting the final word of a $10 million increase.
So how would a $140 million number in 2015 look to the Pittsburgh Steelers? As of this last day of February, the Steelers currently have 24 players under contract for 2015 with cap charges totaling just over $82.7 million. I should probably note that tackle Levi Brown is on that list at $5 million and that number will likely go away soon as he is expected to be released. So in essence, the Steelers have roughly $78 million allocated for 2015 or roughly just under 56% of a $140 million cap number.
The Steelers of course have a whole draft class yet to sign and will likely extend several contracts before the start of the 2014 season, but overall, the team looks to be in good shape cap wise for 2015.
