The Cap Is Set

The NFL released the salary cap for the 2019 season. It's going up to $188.2 million. That's an increase of $11 million over the 2018 number. It's the sixth straight year that the salary cap has risen at least $10 million.

2018: $177.2M
2017: $167M
2016: $155.27M
2015: $143.28M
2014: $133M

That's a $55.2 million increase since 2014.

Anyone that tries to say that the NFL is struggling is an idiot.

A set salary cap allows the league to move forward into the 2019 season. It sets the various tag numbers:

Franchise Tag Numbers

Quarterback: $24.865 million
Running back: $11.214 million
Receiver: $16.787 million
Tight end: $10.387 million
Offensive linemen: $14.067 million
Defensive end: $17.128 million
Defensive tackle: $15.209 million
Linebacker: $15.443 million
Cornerback: $16.022 million
Safety: $11.15 million
Kicker/Punter: $4.971 million

Transition Tag Numbers

Quarterback: $22.783 million
Running back: $9.099 million
Receiver: $14.974 million
Tight end: $8.815 million
Offensive linemen: $12.866 million
Defensive end: $14.36 million
Defensive tackle: $12.378 million
Linebacker: $13.222 million
Cornerback: $13.703 million
Safety: $9.531 million
Kicker/Punter: $4.537 million

I don't know why any team would even consider the transition tag let alone actually use it. I suppose if a team was so damn lazy that they want another team to do the negotiating with their free agent the transition tag might have a use in today's NFL.

Restricted Free Agent Tenders

1st round: $4.407 million
2nd round: $3.095 million
Original round: $2.025 million

Even more significantly the $188.2 million salary cap lets teams know how much they have to spend. Free agency officially starts on March 13. Here's each team's effective cap, per Over The Cap:

Indianapolis Colts: $106,436,235

New York Jets: $96,284,882

Houston Texans: $80,903,667

Buffalo Bills: $79,986,112

Cleveland Browns: $79,199,465

Oakland Raiders: $72,420,680

San Francisco 49ers: $67,493,622

Seattle Seahawks: $48,378,466

Cincinnati Bengals: $49,467,713

Dallas Cowboys: $47,620,275

Tennessee Titans: $43,514,313

Arizona Cardinals: $37,586,094

Denver Broncos: $34,581,784

Green Bay Packers: $34,529,260

Detroit Lions: $33,648,442

New York Giants: $26,507,535

Kansas City Chiefs: $25,155,167

Los Angeles Chargers: $22,548,868

Los Angeles Rams: $21,052,887

Atlanta Falcons: $22,458,182

New England Patriots: $19,425,720

Baltimore Ravens: $18,610,157

Carolina Panthers: $17,459,065

Washington Redskins: $16,969,921

Pittsburgh Steelers: $16,329,956

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $15,708,489

Chicago Bears: $13,666,141

New Orleans Saints: $10,799,712

Miami Dolphins: $9,616,316

Minnesota Vikings: $5,340,897

Philadelphia Eagles: $4,233,815

Jacksonville Jaguars: - $2,365,428

A lot of teams have a lot of cap room. A few teams don't.