NFL Salary Cap Set, Higher Than Expected

With many teams scrambling to get under the salary cap by March 12th, the 2013 NFL season will have a slightly higher cap than expected. In 2012, the cap was $120.6 million. It will now increase to $123 million.

The $2.4 million increase may not seem like much, for teams like the New Orleans Saints, the extra cap space is welcome news.

The higher cap number is a result of higher-than-expected revenues from last season.

Based on the current collective bargaining agreement between NFL owners and the NFL Players Association, every team is required to spend an average of at least 89 percent of the salary cap in contract dollars. The overall league spending must average 95 percent as well.