2016 NFL salary cap space expected to jump up to at least $155 million

The NFL's salary cap is expected to increase yet again. The reported figure for this year is at least $155 million, according to a report from Rand Getlin. That's a significant increase from last year's figure of nearly $143 million.

Over The Cap currently estimates the Philadelphia Eagles to have $21.1 million in cap space. That ranks around the middle of the league. For perspective, the Eagles had about $20.5 million at this point last offseason.

The Eagles can clear even more cap space by getting rid of some players via trade or release. Cutting Mark Sanchez ($3.5 million) and DeMeco Ryans ($3.5 million), for example, would instantly save $7 million.

The increased salary cap could be helpful to the Eagles when it comes to working on new deals for Fletcher Cox and potentially Sam Bradford as well. Both players will command big salaries. The Eagles clearly want to keep Cox around, but it's unclear if Bradford is in Philadelphia's long-term plans.

Speaking of the long-term, Eagles executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman got ahead of this cap jump by signing young players such as Lane Johnson and Zach Ertz to big deals. Their extensions may look big now but they won't look as lucrative when their peers start to get rewarded with new deals.

It's hard to see the Eagles going crazy in free agency like they did last year now that Roseman is back in charge. The team could look to operate how they did back in 2013, when they signed a number of players to reasonable deals to fill some roster holes. In any case, they'll have some money to spend if they want to spend it.