NFL Salary Cap For 2015: $143.28 Million

With the annual NFL free agency period about to kick off in just days, it's a good time to get an update on what the 2015 salary cap will actually be. NFL.com’s Ian Rapaport is reporting that the 2015 salary cap will be officially set at $143.28 million dollars, which is a sizable increase from last year.

On the salary cap: At $143.28M, it’s up $10M from last year, $20M from 2 years ago. With benefits, total projected player cost: $180.775M

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 2, 2015

Let's hope Rick Smith and the front office can put this to good use in attracting and retaining talent during free agency.  The world's largest musical chairs game of "show me the money" begins in roughly one week!

Here is a quick look at important upcoming dates on the NFL calendar:

March 2: Prior to 3 p.m. (CST) deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players [1].

March 7-10: Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2014 contracts at 3:00 p.m. (CST) on March 10. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 3:00 p.m. (CST) on March 10.

March 10: Prior to 3 p.m. (CST), clubs must exercise options for 2015 on all players who have option clauses in their 2014 contracts.

March 10: Prior to 3 p.m. (CST), clubs must submit qualifying offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.

March 10: Prior to 3 p.m. (CST), clubs must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2014 contracts and who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.

March 10: All clubs must be under the 2015 salary cap prior to 3 p.m. (CST).

March 10: All 2014 player contracts expire at 3 p.m. (CST).

March 10: The 2015 league year and free agency period begins at 3 p.m. (CST). The first day of the 2015 league year will end at 10:59:59 p.m. (CST) on March 10. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 3 p.m. (CST) and 10:59:59 p.m. (CST) on March 10.

March 10: Trading period for 2015 begins at 3 p.m. (CST) after expiration of all 2014 contracts.

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What do YOU think the Texans will do with this extra cap space?