Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is walking a salary cap tightrope ahead of the 2025 season.
It has been announced that teams will be allowed to spend between $277.5 million and $281.5 million after the projected cap numbers for the 2025 season were revealed.
The Chiefs are currently projected to have under $10 million to spare at the upper limit.
After the offensive line was ruthlessly exposed by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, Kansas City will have to strengthen up front.
That will mean restructures and departures.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is due $66.3 million in 2025 and could rework his contract for the second year in a row.
Defensive talisman Chris Jones, who will cost $34.9 million in the upcoming season, is another contender.
Key defenders Nick Bolton and Justin Reid are set to hit free agency this offseason.
Sportrac values Reid at over $17 million annually as one of the NFL‘s best safeties.
Middle linebacker Bolton is projected to land a four-year, $49 million deal via the same source.
It will be tough for the Chiefs to keep both but there is another potential saving on the horizon.
Travis Kelce has been given until mid-March to make a decision about his future in the league.
The future Hall of Fame tight end hinted that he could call it a day after the Super Bowl loss to the Eagles.
He is due a roster bonus of around $11 million if he remains with the team on March 15.
Analyst Aaron Schatz believes the Chiefs could even take the decision out of the 35-year-old Kelce’s hands and cut him.
“This would be a very unpopular move,” Schatz told ESPN. “But Kelce’s contract is set up as an easy way for the Chiefs to gain cap space for 2025.
“According to Roster Management System, cutting Kelce would cost the Chiefs only $2.5 million in dead money while saving them over $17 million on the salary cap.
“That’s important with the Chiefs currently having negative effective cap space (a figure that takes into account what it would take to sign their NFL Draft picks).”
The Chiefs have the 31st pick in April’s Draft, which may not be a bad position.
NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah says that while the Class of 2025 doesn’t boast many can’t-miss prospects, there are plenty of starters available in the first and second rounds.
“I’m excited about this draft. It’s a starter’s draft is how I would phrase it,” he said to preview the scouting combine.
“Going through and watching all these guys for the combine and talking to a bunch of people around the league, okay, some positions maybe don’t have that superstar that we have had in years past, but we do have a boatload of starters, particularly the defensive line. A bunch of really, really good players.”
if Jeremiah is correct, the Chiefs may be able to let their veterans walk and retool in April.
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