3 ways the NFL would change if it was uncapped

Under the current NFL salary cap, teams have $167 million to spend on a roster of 53 players.

But what if - by some unforeseen change in the owners' financial motivations - the NFL abolished its salary cap and let franchises spend as much (or as little) as they desired?

The consequences would drastically affect the game, both on and off the field.

Seahawks sign everyone they want

Seahawks owner Paul Allen, who co-founded a little company called Microsoft, has a net worth of $17.8 billion - over $10 billion more than the next richest NFL owner. Almost 90 percent of Allen's wealth comes from outside the Seahawks, giving him plenty of cash to spend on player contracts.

So, if the Seahawks wanted a player in uncapped free agency, they'd have the funds to outbid the rest of the league. Imagine Alshon Jeffery, Calais Campbell, Dont'a Hightower, Kevin Zeitler, and A.J. Bouye all signing in Seattle this offseason.

The Seahawks would also be able to clear the cloud of financial worry that's surrounded the roster since making a Super Bowl run in 2013. Stars like Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and future draft gems that John Schneider uncovers could all be easily re-signed without a cap.

Guaranteed contracts finally show up

It seems silly that the "Big 5" sport with the most injuries is also the only one without guaranteed contracts, but without a cap for dead money to count against, there aren't many reasons that can't change.

Of course, teams would initially still be against the idea because owners like money and they don't want to be spending it on players who may not be playing.

However, over time guaranteed contracts would become the norm. The prospect of offering lots of money would essentially be available to any team bidding on a free agent, so teams willing to offer guarantees would gain a strong upper hand over those that don't. With an owner as wealthy as Allen and players as outspoken as some of the Seahawks, you can bet they would be one of the first teams to get that ball rolling.

Eventually, players would have the sense to only sign with teams willing to give out guaranteed deals, and one of the biggest problems with NFL contracts would be solved - but it's not the only issue.

Players still won't get NBA money

One of the biggest storylines this offseason has been the comparison between what NBA players earn versus their NFL counterparts.

Derek Carr's $25 million per season tops the NFL, but he'd only tie as the 21st-highest paid player in the NBA; Steph Curry leads the way at $40.23 million annually.

That $40-million dollar mark might be met by the NFL's best quarterbacks in a world without a cap, but the average player still wouldn't see their salary reach NBA levels. Basketball does not require a player to be an All-Star or even have league-wide name recognition to make top dollar. If an NBAer is young enough, has the potential to be good, and has their previous contract expire at the right time, they can make huge money.

That's not to say NBA players who haven't been named All-Stars don't have the potential to reach that level. But with six non-All-Stars making more than every player in NFL, there is clearly a difference in how the two sports compensate their athletes.

(Salaries courtesy of Spotrac)

Other than quarterbacks (who already get overpaid fairly easily), NFL players would still need to prove their worth to get the megabucks comparable to what the NBA is dishing out. Plus, the discrepancy between putting together a 12-man roster versus a 53-man unit is too much for the average NFL salary of $1.9 million to equate with the NBA's $6.88 million average.