Creating cap space for shoring up defense for 2018
 

I know it is looking way into the future, and neglecting 2017, but I was interested to see what kind of cap figures we could get into for 2018.

According to over the cap, the Chiefs are set to be .9M over the cap at the start of league year 2018.

This figure includes a dead money figure of 4.8M for Jeremy Maclin, and a dead money figure of .77M for Jah Reid.

There are a few players who I think have little to no chance of being on the roster next season.

Alex smith, with a cap figure of 20.6M if cut or traded would save 17M on the cap, and cost us 3.6M in dead money.

DJ, as much as I hate to say it, is done. Ending his 10.2M contract in 2018 saves 8M and leaves us with 2.2M in dead money.

Tamba Hali has a cap number of 8.5M in 2018 and would cost us 1.5M in dead money but save us 7M if cut.

So after those three we are at roughly 31.1M in cap space.

We have no big name free agents next year that we should be too concerned with resigning. I am guessing we pick up Marcus Peters 5th year option, which will keep him on the roster through the 2019 season. Dee Fords option was picked up earlier this off season and he will be a UFA at the start of the 2019 league year.

I dont think too many of our free agents stick around after this year.

Perhaps we resign Albert Wilson, Anthony Sherman, Terrence Mitchell and Zack Fulton. Those deals shouldnt cost much more than 10M I would hope. This year combined these four players account for less than 7.5M. Maybe we resign a couple low end UFA and RFA to tenders.

So realistically we could have 21M going into free agency.

I dont know if anyone here considers Allen Bailey and Ron Parker as potential cap casualties, but Bailey would save us another 6M and Ron parker would save us another 5M.

So without those two we could be sitting pretty at 32M in cap space prior to FA with the re signings of the players mentioned before.

Players I am looking at in free agency are:

Safety Kenny Vaccaro of the saints,

ILB Todd Davis of the broncos,

ILB Zach Brown of the redskins,

CB Morris Claiborne of the jets,

These guys aren't considered "top tier" free agents, but I think each one of them could come into this defense and be an immediate upgrade for a decent deal.

I would also be looking for a 3-4 DT or DE if there were any available that were worth a shit.

That being said, with the probable release of DJ and Hali and the group of pending free agents along the D Line, if it becomes necessary to switch to a 4-3 with a new DC, this would be a decent year to do it.

What do you think guys? How can we get this defense shored up prior to the draft?

Peter's? really, After how he played against the Raiders? Yeah right. He may come back to us if we fire Sutton now but if after the 1 wild card game we play, I'd say he is off to Oakland or someone else who want the stench. He's worth something in trade. Isf he really wants to play with Berry next year, he better step up and become our defensive MVP in 2017 and not some corner god that can't be bothered by tackling..

Everyone says Hali is too slow and will be cut next year but where is he now? If he were to come back strong and give us a pass rush he may get a spot but if not 110% he is gone.

You keep Peters, because he will still be better value for money than any other corner we can get (except maybe from a rookie), considering he will still be on his rookie deal

Peters was only targeted twice last game however his tackling blows. Deion Lote

He's excellent in late hits, unsportsmanlike conduct and DPI. And yeah, tackling is beneath him. He has trade value so unless he decides he is doing to play hard for Sutton he's expendable.. it would be great to have him and Berry together but Peters wants a new contract and probably Berry kind of cash.

I think he played with a chip on his shoulder after being called out for sideline antics last week with Sutton.

I really wanted Brown last year and the Chiefs didn't even sniff in his general direction. I wouldn't expect it... I will say, all of Washington's inside backers are FA's next year, including Foster and Compton (the starter prior to Brown coming in), and they have a shitload of FAs to sign so Brown might not be retained. He's the one guy I'd spend a bit of money on at ILB, but he's not going to call the defense for you. More on Washington, not only do they have to decide on what to do at QB, but they have to decide what to do with Trent Murphy at OLB, Shawn Lauvao at LG, Spencer Long at C, Bashaud Breeland at CB, and Deshazor Elliott at SS. If they let Trent Murphy walk, I'd go hard after him. He might be coming off an ACL, but he looked really good in 2016.

Vaccaro might cost a few bucks, he's been pretty damn productive. That, and safeties don't come as cheap as they used to. I bet he gets 12 per.

Never been all that high on Claiborne so I'd probably take a pass here. It's difficult to get marked improvement at CB without spending significant coin in FA. If Vontae Davis comes cheap enough, then that would be the guy I'd look at. Other than that, probably looking at needing to take one early in the draft.

I'd have to think Denver is going to not try and repeat their mistakes at ILB and try to retain Davis.

LB Michael Wilhoite, if he wants to come home, wouldn't be a bad low-key signing on a 1 or 2 year deal IMO. He's a fundamentally sound player that could certainly help the young guys play assignment football. He was always solid for the 49ers at ILB.

The Packers have alot of important free agents to sign, so they are going to have to be choosy. Quinton Dial is a guy that could also be a nice low-key signing for a low salary at NT given that he chose to be a back-up there after looking pretty damn good as a 3-4 nose in San Fran.

Beau Allen of the Eagles is also a solid NT type that would be a good signing on the cheaper end of the spectrum. He's not going to get you sacks, but he's a tough run defender.

Elidigwe will take a ILB spot next year. He's going to be a stud sooner rather than later. Then we have Ragland and Pierre Louis to fill in. A top tier corner is needed and a change in Suttons scheme.

Davis is a dog turd

The peters shit is pretty much not a question. He is under contract through the 2018 season, with an option to pick up 2019. If we picked up the Dee Ford option I am fairly certain they will pick up peters. As of right now, if we trade Peters this year or next we eat his whole salary anyway. Might as well keep a perennial pro bowl corner still on his rookie contract mmmmkay?

Cut or retire Hali and DJ.
Cut Ford.

That should free up some space.

Man.. the panic on here is real.

I get it, it was a super shitty week. No doubt. But I firmly believe that KC has the players in the building right now to right the ship defensively. This isn't a personnel issue completely, this is a scheme issue and Bob Sutton needs to fix it by Denver in 9 days.

Every team has warts.. ours are fixable right now. Reinforcements are on the way.

Looking at this:

https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/kansas-city-chiefs/

...there are a lot of moves the Chiefs could make and save cap space.

Part ways with DJ and Tamba

Extend KPL and Logan.

In FA they need to find the best cover corner available. That's what I want to spend our money on. I would have zero problem discussing a trade for Richard Sherman if we get a high pick for Alex.

Oakland? Why? Is he going to play ****ing baseball?

If you mean the Raiders, he has to go to LAS VEGAS.

Jesus Christ. Get it through your ****ing skulls people. Marcus Peters has a loyalty to OAKLAND. Not LAS VEGAS. Where he would have to ACTUALLY ****ING PLAY if he wanted to play for the Raiders.

Bob Sutton is an old and confused man. He won't change anything.