Buccaneers: NFL set to increase 2018 salary cap more than $10 Million

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans hold up a sign during their game against the Baltimore Ravens on September 10, 2006 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Ravens won 27-0. (Photo by Matt Stroshane/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans hold up a sign during their game against the Baltimore Ravens on September 10, 2006 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Ravens won 27-0. (Photo by Matt Stroshane/Getty Images) /
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The Buccaneers now know exactly how much space under the 2018 NFL salary cap they’ll have to work with. This according to multiple reporters as of Monday afternoon. Big news because the team has been linked to multiple big name free-agents and have a plethora of their own players in need of new contracts.

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht will reportedly have $177.2 Million as his limit when building the 2018 version of his team.

The increase is a little more than $10 Million more than the 2017 cap number and according to NFL.com’s Edward Lewis, this season is the fifth straight with a cap increase of $10 Million or more.

With needs at running back, offensive line, defensive line and in the secondary, several big names expected – or in some cases dreamed – to be available when the new league year begins have been on the lips of Bucs fans across the country and even world.

Cornerback Trumaine Johnson has been a favorite. The 28-year old cornerback is all but guaranteed to be leaving the Los Angeles following their trade for former Chiefs cover-man, Marcus Peters.

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The talented defender who many consider a true number-one corner in the NFL is expected to run around $13 Million per year. A high price, but one somebody is likely to be willing to pay for his services.

Some rumors have sprouted that Johnson is likely to stay on the west coast by heading to either Oakland or to the San Francisco 49ers as of late.

Just who the Buccaneers will target when legal tampering begins continues to be a bit of a mystery with most left to speculate who they would like to target had they held the position of general manager for Tampa Bay’s NFL franchise.

Alas, we don’t. But knowing just how much Jason Licht will be working with certainly gives us all a little more foundation to work with when laying down our own sign, trade, and release scenarios.

What are your thoughts in relation to the salary cap? Do you feel like the increase of over $10 Million will make the Bucs spend more aggressively? Who would you sign if you could ink just one player to a deal?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments or on social media.

David Harrison is one of the Buccaneers Co-Experts for The Pewter Plank. You can reach him about this or any other NFL topic on Facebook, or on Twitter.