I didn't see the Super Bowl cap issues coming.

[Direckshun]

I can't be the only one blindsided by this.

Now the Chiefs are showing -$3m in cap space. They're going to need $10m for the draft class, and $20m for OBJ if they extend him or keep the tag. They're probably also going to extend Sneed this offseason -- Sneed costs us about $2.5m in the last year of his deal, and the deal Charvarius Ward signed ran a first year cap hit of $3.8m, and I'd put them on about the same level, so that's a cap hit of $1m larger.

That's about $34m the Chiefs will need to somehow cover? What's the solution there?

Clearly cutting/reducing Frank Clark will save the team $20-21m, depending on if we cut him or basically give him the same deal we gave him last year, which was to sign him for $1m more than the dead money for cutting him.

That brings us down to $13-14m over the cap. Restructuring Jones would probably get the Chiefs the rest of the way: lowering his $28m cap hit to $14m in his first year -- and maybe farther if the guaranteed money is high.

The Chiefs can squeeze a dollar out here or there for middle-of-the-road vets like McKinnon, Burton, Hardman if he wants back, Blake Bell, maybe Allegretti if he wants back, Nnadi, Darius Harris if he wants back, and Deon Bush. But you're pinching pennies to make some of that stuff work. If Jones takes a team-friendly first-year cap hit (and he and Veach have signed favorable deals before so long as Jones gets his), you can probably sign all of those guys.

But that does mean that a lot of other "middle class vets" seem beyond our cap space?

I don't see how this team can keep Wylie. Allegretti, maybe.

I don't see how this team can keep JuJu. Hardman, maybe.

How can this team keep Carlos Dunlap? Khalen Saunders? Juan Thornhill?

I just don't know where the money comes from unless you're pushing more Mahomes cash down the road, and I think the team just wants to take their medicine with him this year.

I don't see any realistic path by which this team can trade for a top shelf talent like Deandre Hopkins. Nor do I see how they can shell out money for literally any serious free agent, like Marcus Davenport or Keenan Allen.

The team is lucky to have 12 draft picks, and a GM who can make those picks stick.

They're probably going to have to keep all of them to make sure the Chiefs can field a deep roster to maintain last year's success.

[staylor26]

We're back to Direskhun "the sky is falling" posts ay?

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by staylor26

We're back to Direskhun "the sky is falling" posts ay?

Buddy, I literally unmuted you like three days ago. You can go a week without just randomly insulting on me, one assumes.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Buddy, I literally unmuted you like three days ago. You can go a week without just randomly insulting on me, one assumes.

You're such a ****ing pussy.

[duncan_idaho]

Isn't about $14M of the current cap number coming from practice squad guys or end of roster guys technically counting against the cap right now, who will not count against the cap moving forward (or who will get moved down and not be part of the top 51 salaries)?

[kccrow]

There are no problems and we're well set up to address it. I pretty much tried to touch on the process through the moves I've been making in my mocks.

For one, OTC hasn't updated its cap calculations to match the change in the salary cap. They originally estimated the salary cap at 220m and it's 224.8. The Chiefs have cap liabilities of 223.6, so they should have 1.2m in space.

You can gain 27.5m in cap just by restructuring Mahomes' 34.4m roster bonus to a signing bonus.

You can gain 21.0m in cap just by cutting Frank Clark, take off whatever from that 21 if you keep him around at a reduced salary.

You can likely pick up 5-7m by working a Chris Jones extension.

You could restructure Thuney and pick up as much as 9.5m if you want (I see it as doubtful and unnecessary).

You can pick up 4.1m if you restructured Reid (I see it as doubtful and unnecessary).

We can save 7.0m if we cut MVS (doubtful).

The sky is most definitely NOT falling. We can get to 48m in space with absolute ease. Don't sweat it man.

And yes, duncan is on it with the effective space requirement for the draft class. With top 51, you will only need a few million.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I can't be the only one blindsided by this.

Now the Chiefs are showing -$3m in cap space. They're going to need $10m for the draft class, and $20m for OBJ if they extend him or keep the tag. They're probably also going to extend Sneed this offseason -- Sneed costs us about $2.5m in the last year of his deal, and the deal Charvarius Ward signed ran a first year cap hit of $3.8m, and I'd put them on about the same level, so that's a cap hit of $1m larger.

That's about $34m the Chiefs will need to somehow cover? What's the solution there?

Clearly cutting/reducing Frank Clark will save the team $20-21m, depending on if we cut him or basically give him the same deal we gave him last year, which was to sign him for $1m more than the dead money for cutting him.

That brings us down to $13-14m over the cap. Restructuring Jones would probably get the Chiefs the rest of the way: lowering his $28m cap hit to $14m in his first year -- and maybe farther if the guaranteed money is high.

The Chiefs can squeeze a dollar out here or there for middle-of-the-road vets like McKinnon, Burton, Hardman if he wants back, Blake Bell, maybe Allegretti if he wants back, Nnadi, Darius Harris if he wants back, and Deon Bush. But you're pinching pennies to make some of that stuff work. If Jones takes a team-friendly first-year cap hit (and he and Veach have signed favorable deals before so long as Jones gets his), you can probably sign all of those guys.

But that does mean that a lot of other "middle class vets" seem beyond our cap space?

I don't see how this team can keep Wylie. Allegretti, maybe.

I don't see how this team can keep JuJu. Hardman, maybe.

How can this team keep Carlos Dunlap? Khalen Saunders? Juan Thornhill?

I just don't know where the money comes from unless you're pushing more Mahomes cash down the road, and I think the team just wants to take their medicine with him this year.

I don't see any realistic path by which this team can trade for a top shelf talent like Deandre Hopkins. Nor do I see how they can shell out money for literally any serious free agent, like Marcus Davenport or Keenan Allen.

The team is lucky to have 12 draft picks, and a GM who can make those picks stick.

They're probably going to have to keep all of them to make sure the Chiefs can field a deep roster to maintain last year's success.

I mean, I've only been saying this for 3-4 months now.

The "We'll have TONS of space!" crowd hasn't really done the math.

Yeah, I most assuredly saw this coming and said it to anyone who would listen.

[O.city]

Isn't 14 mil of that for guys not on the 51 and will fall off?


(I see duncan already brought that up)

[Megatron96]

Not sure Veach is even interested in keeping Carlos. Hell, he might retire.

Nnadi is another question mark. He really didn't have a great season, and his production is probably replaceable through the draft or PS.

I thought Hardman was gone, according to CP?

I would be surprised if Thornhill returns. He probably can get a better payday elsewhere.

Juju is likely gone as well. He sounded like he was interested in a payday as much as staying a Chief.



I mean, Veach has to have seen all this coming, and has some plan for dealing with the cap and keeping OBJ, CJ and whoever else he wants to keep. It will be interesting to see how he plays this out though.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I mean, I've only been saying this for 3-4 months now.

The "We'll have TONS of space!" crowd hasn't really done the math.

Yeah, I most assuredly saw this coming and said it to anyone who would listen.

We're fine though with all those picks to fill holes/build depth

[RunKC]

Remember when we had like $45 and extended a bunch of players? It’s fine.

Frank Clark is gonna give us money back one way or another. That’s gonna happen soon. Chris Jones is probably getting a new deal and will free up about $11-12 million.

I think this year is a good time to use our “Mahomes restructure” to free up some space. His $49 million cap is the highest until 2027.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Remember when we had like $45 and extended a bunch of players? It’s fine.

Frank Clark is gonna give us money back one way or another. That’s gonna happen soon. Chris Jones is probably getting a new deal and will free up about $11-12 million.

I think this year is a good time to use our “Mahomes restructure” to free up some space. His $49 million cap is the highest until 2027.

Was thinking about that yesterday or the day before. Part of the reason Mahomes' contract was structured that way was to allow for flexibility/restructuring, right? So maybe this is the time.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Was thinking about that yesterday or the day before. Part of the reason Mahomes' contract was structured that way was to allow for flexibility/restructuring, right? So maybe this is the time.

Correct. And they don’t even have to ask Patrick to do it. It’s basically asking Clark.

But I’m sure Mahomes would be really pissed to be informed that his contract was restricted and he’s getting a check for $15 million or so.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

We're fine though with all those picks to fill holes/build depth

I don't disagree - we're not going to have to go out there and scorch the earth.

But the next 2-3 seasons WILL be a balancing act. The days of off-season splurges for guys like Watkins/Mathieu/Hitchens should be over.

Take care of our own early where we can to save on some AAV, target value plays on the 2nd wave and keep a weather eye on the horizon.

We're just never going to be 'flush' with cap money while we're contenders and have a premier QB. There's too much talent on the roster and the SB tax is a real thing.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Correct. And they don’t even have to ask Patrick to do it. It’s basically asking Clark.

But I’m sure Mahomes would be really pissed to be informed that his contract was restricted and he’s getting a check for $15 million or so.

Won't actually change his 'take home'.

He has low base salaries and high roster bonuses. So a restructure still gives him the same paper at the same time, just pushes the money across 5 years instead of 1.

But don't forget that it compounds every time you do that.

I still say you only use it in cases of emergency or if there's a good ROI on it. So for instance, if pulling that trigger allows us to extend Sneed or Gay early and at a discount, then go ahead and get it done. You'll get it back on the back end when you're paying them less.

But if you're just robbing Peter to pay Paul so you can pay retail prices for guys - that's gonna eventually burn you. I don't love the idea.