News came down today that the most recent rumors of the new collective bargaining agreement will have a salary cap minimum and maximum.  What's new is that the minimum is expected to be VERY close to the salary cap maximum.  Previously our cap minimum was less than 90% of the cap maximum.  (source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6687485)

We all know that last season there was no salary cap, which allowed teams to spend as much--or as little---as they'd like.  The Chiefs took full advantage of this.  In fact, even after signing a few players to long-term deals last year, we're currently sitting at approximately 75 million dollars accounted for heading into 2011.  (source: http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Sports/nfl-salaries.php)

I'll preface the following info with this statement--I'm assuming that these rumors are true AND that we will have football next year.  Sorry, I'm bored and miss football.  I'm feeling optimistic.

Based on the data in the links above and using a cap figure next year of $125 million (2009 was $123 million), the 27 NFL teams with money to spend during free agency have an average of $28.5 million dollars to spend, or about 23% of their expected 2011 payroll.  They have a total of $769.8 million to spend if the cap minimum is about $125 million.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, could have approximately $50.3 million that they will have to spend before the season starts. That's  a WHOPPING (in caps) 40% of our total 2011 salary!

Let's say that the numbers are high. Maybe the cap minimum will be closer to $120 million. That's still $45 million we'd have to spend in the next two months.