Teams Have Cap Room to Spend Big When Market Opens

The NFL free agent market that's about to open is lacking in star-caliber players but that probably won't stop teams, spurred by their abundant salary cap space that was provided by the league's labor settlement last spring, from doing some fast and furious spending.

The salary cap is jumping from $102 million per team this past season to $109 million per club next season, that after it increased from $85.5 million in 2005 thanks to the collective bargaining agreement hammered out between the league and the players' union last March. If teams want to spend money when the market opens Friday, they'll have the cap room to do it.

The free agent pool is limited because teams used their salary cap space to re-sign players before they could hit the market. Clubs also were able to make extensive use of the expensive franchise player tag. Seven players league-wide, including Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney and New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel, were given the franchise designation, severely limiting their free agent mobility or, in Freeney's case, taking him off the market altogether. Still, there are players who will draw plenty of interest and land mammoth contracts, likely including Baltimore Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas, Buffalo Bills cornerback Nate Clements and Atlanta Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney.

Teams also can resume making trades Friday. Among the players who perhaps might be traded are Bills tailback Willis McGahee and quarterbacks David Carr of the Houston Texans and Jake Plummer of the Denver Broncos.

By Mark Maske |  February 28, 2007; 8:11 PM ET  | Category:  League
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