The NFL has set the salary cap at $167 million, per multiple reports, up from $155.27 million in 2016 and $143.28 million in 2015.
Salary cap set at $167 million, according to a league official.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) March 1, 2017
Thanks to salary cap carry over from 2016 and additional adjustments, the Patriots currently have $59.67 million in cap space for 2017, which ranks 6th most in the NFL. This will adjust further down because the Patriots only have 50 players under contract, below the 53 players required on the active roster.
The Patriots need to come to terms with the likes of free agents LB Dont’a Hightower, TE Martellus Bennett, CB Logan Ryan, and EDGE Jabaal Sheard, along with restricted free agent CB Malcolm Butler.
Even if the Patriots sign these players, look for New England to have plenty of remaining cap space to be an active spender when free agency opens in March.