With the retirement of Tom Brady, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are moving into a brave new world.
They will have the talented but mercurial Baker Mayfield at quarterback for this upcoming season, but they still do have stud wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, two of their big links to their 2020 Super Bowl championship team.
However, the Bucs lack the necessary salary cap space to go out and upgrade their roster in order to make the playoffs again.
In fact, as of now, they have less cap space than the 31 other NFL teams.
Updated post-June 1: A look at where all 32 NFL teams stand in salary cap space: pic.twitter.com/W5XDH51P9K
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 2, 2023
The Chicago Bears are the leader in that category at nearly $32.5 million, and they could have a sneaky competitive team this fall.
They have added up-and-coming running back D’Onta Foreman, who had 914 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 2022, mostly in the second half of the season, and they made a bold trade with the Carolina Panthers to upgrade their depth.
That trade sent out the No. 1 pick in April’s draft and brought back a package of other picks, as well as wide receiver D.J. Moore.
The Panthers, who may have a real shot at returning to the playoffs, just happen to be second on the cap space list.
One team to take notice of is the New York Jets, who some think are Super Bowl contenders after the additions of Aaron Rodgers, Allen Lazard, and Randall Cobb.
They have nearly $25 million in cap space, not to mention a young and talented team outside of the 39-year-old Rodgers.
NEXT: Todd Bowles Gives Update On Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask Competition
