Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL announced Thursday that salary cap for the upcoming season will be $279.2 million, up $23.8 million from last season.

Regardless of where the final number fell, the Bears were set to have the fourth-most salary-cap space when the new league year begins March 12. After recent cuts of tight end Gerald Everett and defensive end DeMarcus Walker, they’re on track to have $79.5 million in space when they start negotiating with free agents March 10.

That trails only the Patriots at $127.8 million, the Raiders at $96.5 million and the Commanders at $81.9 million. NFC North rivals the Vikings ($63 million) and Lions ($51.5 million) also are in the top 10, and the Packers have $48.8 million to spend.

While Bears general manager Ryan Poles typically has been conservative in free agency, that could change this offseason with the ample cap space, a significant list of roster needs and urgency to deliver results after the team went 15-36 over his first three seasons in charge.

“The clearer the vision, the more aggressive you can be,” he said. “That’s important. You want to be selective in free agency ... but if there are certain players that [check all the] boxes you need, there is really no reason to hold back.”