INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL announced Thursday that salary cap for the upcoming season will be $279.2 million, up $23.8 million from last season.
Regardless of where the final number fell, the Bears were set to have the fourth-most salary-cap space when the new league year begins March 12. After recent cuts of tight end Gerald Everett and defensive end DeMarcus Walker, they’re on track to have $79.5 million in space when they start negotiating with free agents March 10.
That trails only the Patriots at $127.8 million, the Raiders at $96.5 million and the Commanders at $81.9 million. NFC North rivals the Vikings ($63 million) and Lions ($51.5 million) also are in the top 10, and the Packers have $48.8 million to spend.
While Bears general manager Ryan Poles typically has been conservative in free agency, that could change this offseason with the ample cap space, a significant list of roster needs and urgency to deliver results after the team went 15-36 over his first three seasons in charge.
“The clearer the vision, the more aggressive you can be,” he said. “That’s important. You want to be selective in free agency … but if there are certain players that [check all the] boxes you need, there is really no reason to hold back.”
The Bears also have three draft picks in the first two rounds at Nos. 10, 39 and 41 overall.
