Jan. 30, 2026, 6:56 p.m. ET
Business just continues to boom for the NFL.
According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the league has informed clubs that it is projecting yet another salary cap increase. Per Pelissero, the projection heading into the 2026 season would sit anywhere between $301.2 million and $305.7 million, a substantial bump up from the $279.2 million cap number from 2025.
So, how much would this increase leave the Carolina Panthers with for the upcoming campaign?
According to Over the Cap, who have set their salary cap base projection in the middle at $303.5 million, the Panthers would be at approximately $17.1 million in cap space. Their effective cap space, meanwhile, is projected at around $12.2 million.
With that number, Carolina ranks 19th in the NFL in salary cap space. That amount would also rank as the third-lowest in the NFC South—behind the Atlanta Falcons ($25.4 million) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($24.7 million).
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