NFL salary cap increases $10 million to top $143 million

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NEW YORK -- The NFL's salary cap is going up $10 million to $143.28 million for the 2015 season.

All 32 teams and the players' union were notified Monday of the increase, the second straight season the cap went up by at least $10 million. Adding in benefits, the league says the projected player costs will be $180.775 million per team.

The NFL's business year starts March 10, when free agency begins.

The salary cap is determined by a series of NFL revenue streams, with the players receiving 46 percent to 48 percent of those revenues, depending on the year.

Several teams are carrying over wads of money they did not spend in 2014, giving them higher adjusted salary cap numbers. The highest such total is Jacksonville at $168.4 million; the Jaguars are carrying over $21.7 million in unspent money and have $3.43 in financial adjustments.

Other teams with substantially more to spend in 2015 include Cleveland ($161.7 million), Philadelphia ($159.8 million); the New York Jets ($156.1 million); and Tennessee ($154.3 million).

According to the 2011 labor agreement, the NFL and individual clubs must guarantee a minimum level of cash spending during two four-year cycles: 2013-16, and 2017-20. The CBA ends after the 2020 season.

The league guarantees that 95 percent of the cumulative salary caps will be spent, and each club guarantees 89 percent of the cumulative salary caps for those four years will be spent.

Since the current CBA was signed, the cap has been $120 million in 2011 and 2012, $123 million in 2013, and $133 million in 2014.

The league and union also released franchise tag values for 2015; teams had until Monday to designate players with either the franchise or transition tag.

Naturally, the highest franchise tag is at quarterback, $18.544 million. Next is defensive end at $14.813 million, followed by cornerback at $13.075 million. Then come linebacker ($13.195), offensive line ($12.943 million), wide receiver ($12.823 million), defensive tackle (11.193 million), running back $10.951 million, safety ($9.618 million), tight end ($8.347 million), and kickers/punters ($4.126 million).

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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