SoccerPreview
Carrick: Man Utd games vs Liverpool some of my favourites
Carrick highlights the significance of Man Utd vs Liverpool rivalry
Sky Sports1 min read
NFL
How much salary cap space do Colts need to sign 2026 draft class?
TL;DR
The Indianapolis Colts need to allocate salary cap space to sign their eight draft picks from the 2026 NFL Draft. This includes players like LB CJ Allen and S AJ Haulcy.
Key points
- Colts have eight draft picks to sign
- Key players include LB CJ Allen and S AJ Haulcy
- Salary cap space is needed for rookie deals
CJ AllenAJ HaulcyJalen FarmerBryce Boettcher
The draft picks have been made, but now the Indianapolis Colts have to sign their eight selections to their rookie deals.
So, how much salary cap space will that require?
Colts' 2026 NFL draft class
- Pick 53: LB CJ Allen
- Pick 78: S AJ Haulcy
- Pick 113: OL Jalen Farmer
- Pick 135: LB Bryce Boettcher
- Pick 156: DE George Gumbs
- Pick 214: DE Caden Curry
- Pick 237: RB Seth McGowan
- Pick 254: WR Deion Burks
Salary cap space required by Colts to sign 2026 draft class
According to Over the Cap, the Colts need $9.027 million in available cap space to sign this year's class.
There is a wrinkle to this, however. Although that is how much the Colts' rookie class will count towards this year's cap, Indianapolis' available cap space figure won't drop by $9-plus million once these deals are done.
When it comes to calculating offseason cap space, only the top 52 contracts, in terms of value, count towards that figure. So, in the cap space calculation, each of these rookie contracts will replace a player who is likely on a minimum deal for the 2026 season -- around $885,000.
The incoming cap hits will be more than those minimum contracts, but it's not as if the entire amount is completely unaccounted for at the moment -- salary-cap-wise -- because there are players already occupying the top 52 spots in the cap calculation.
As OTC notes, this is known as effective cap space -- what is actually available to spend. Although $9.02 million may be needed to sign this year's draft class, the effective cap space -- or difference that will show up in the cap space calculation -- is around just $1.947 million.
How much 2026 salary cap space do Colts have?
Q&A
How much salary cap space do the Colts need for their 2026 draft class?
The exact amount of salary cap space required for the Colts' 2026 draft class has not been specified, but it will depend on the contracts negotiated with each of the eight selections.
Who are the Colts' 2026 draft picks?
The Colts' 2026 draft picks include LB CJ Allen, S AJ Haulcy, OL Jalen Farmer, LB Bryce Boettcher, DE George Gumbs, DE Caden Curry, RB Seth McGowan, and WR Deion Burks.
What positions did the Colts draft in 2026?
In the 2026 NFL Draft, the Colts selected players in various positions including linebacker, safety, offensive line, defensive end, running back, and wide receiver.
