It’s been a rough offseason for the Chicago Bears due to salary cap constraints for the 2021 season, which saw the departure of cornerback Kyle Fuller in free agency. But there’s some clarity about the salary cap for the 2022 season that should alleviate the same stress from this offseason.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to a $208.2 million salary cap ceiling for the 2022 season. That would be a $25.7 million increase from this season’s cap of $182.5 million. Although, we won’t know the final salary cap until next February.
Following loss of revenue amid the COVID-19 pandemic, both sides agreed to spread the loss over the next few years, which dropped the salary cap for the 2021 season.
The final salary cap won't be set until February, and it could land below $208.2M in 2022 depending on revenue projections. But this is a step back in the right direction, with major cash from new media deals, gambling, etc., expected to spike the cap in 2023 and beyond. https://t.co/8h8cYjjf1d
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 26, 2021
Where things currently stand, the Bears currently have just $219,000 in cap space. But that’s without Charles Leno’s impending release, which goes into effect after June 1. The move will officially clear up $9 million in cap space, which will allow Chicago to sign its current crop of rookies.
The Bears are set to have roughly $40 million in salary cap space for the 2022 season with just 39 players currently under contract for that year.
