gresh and fauria: Could Caleb Williams be on the board at #3 for the Patriots?
The NFL officially set their 2024 salary cap parameters on Friday afternoon, announcing a ceiling of $255.4 million per team, a nearly $30 million jump from a season ago.
According to the league, the "$30 million increase per club... is a result of the full repayment of all amounts advanced by the clubs and deferred by the players during the Covid pandemic as well as an extraordinary increase in media revenue for the 2024 season."
So how does the increase affect the Patriots? According to Miguel Benzan (@patscap), New England has $87.3 million in salary cap space heading into 2024, second only to the Washington Commanders. Head coach Jerod Mayo's ready to spend it.
“We’re bringing in talent, 1,000 percent,” Mayo told WEEI's The Greg Hill Show last month when asked about their cap space. “Have a lot of cap space, and cash. Burn some cash.”
The Patriots have 24 pending free agents heading into this season, with plenty worthy of an extension and a franchise tag. With the new cap on Friday also came the tag numbers. Kyle Dugger would cost them $17,123,000 on a one-year deal, and Mike Onwenu would cost them $20,985,000.
According to KPRC2's Aaron Wilson, Kendrick Bourne and the Patriots will not reach a deal prior to free agency opening, and the wide receiver is set to test the open market. He's recovering from an ACL tear in October and is reportedly expected to be ready for Week 1.
NFL free agency officially begins on Wednesday, March 13.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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