Veach's '21 Offseason Plan to Keep Us Thriving: Let's speculate

[Dante84]

In order to prevent us wasting precious years of Patrick Mahomes' career, Veach needs to work some magic this offseason. What's your advice for him?

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by Wilson8

Basic Plan

Starting Center. [Austin Reiter] – Draft BPA, but draft at least these positions - OT, C, WR, DE, and LB.
Starting Left Tackle [Eric Fisher] – Draft, No, Andy will not start a rookie LT, gonna have to be creative here to the stopgap. Possibly Martinas Rankin
Starting DE [Tanoh Kpassagnon] – Draft
Starting WR [Sammy Watkins] – Draft
Starting Safety [Daniel Sorensen] – Re-sign Sorensen, No let him walk
Starting LB [Damien Wilson] – Draft late round or UDFA
Starting Right Tackle [Mitchel Schwartz] – Lucas Niang
Starting Cornerback [Bashaud Breeland] - Attempt to re-sign Breeland. If unable, then next man up.
Starting Cornerback [Charvarius Ward] - Re-sign Ward as an RFA Right of First Refusal
Starting Guard [Andrew Wylie] - Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
Rotational WR [Demarcus Robinson] – Mecole Hardman
Rotational DE [Alex Okafor] – Attempt to re-sign Taco Charlton with club friendly deal
Swing Tackle [Mike Remmers] – Attempt to re-sign Remmers with club-friendly deal
Rotational TE [Deon Yelder] – Resign as he is an RFA
Rotational DL [Mike Pennel] - Khalen Saunders
Backup G [Stefen Wisniewski] – Yasir Durant or Martinas Rankin
Backup C [Daniel Kilgore] - Darryl Williams
Rotational WR [Byron Pringle] - Attempt to re-sign Pringle. If unable, then next man up.
Rotational RB [Le’Veon Bell/ Darrel Williams] - Resign Williams. He is an RFA.
Rotational FB/ST [Anthony Sherman] - Re-sign Sherman and late-round draft or UDFA

.

[mkp785]

Originally Posted by MAHOMO 4 LIFE!

We gonna rob bank to sign Williams? 18-20 mil a year. His market value is 18.2 mil

Was just thinking this. Everyone is talking dreams of us signing Arob or Godwin and linemen like Williams. Where is this magical cap room coming from?

[TRR]

Originally Posted by mkp785

Was just thinking this. Everyone is talking dreams of us signing Arob or Godwin and linemen like Williams. Where is this magical cap room coming from?

Williams isn’t getting 18MM per year. His base last year with SF was 12.5MM.

There’s many ways to create more than enough room for a marquee signing if Veach wants to go that route.

[Delano]

Originally Posted by Dull Tools

Just came on here to post the same. It is a great listen.
...
Says the Chiefs seem reluctant to extend or restructure Jones or Clark even though doing so will reduce our cap. They don't seem to want to push the issue down the road.
...
Was a reassuring listen given how everyone is stressing about the draft.

What was the reasoning on this bit here? Why extend elsewhere and not these two players?

[Wilson8]

Originally Posted by Chargem

Not sure I understand what you are saying, your plan is to draft 5 starters?

That would be a heck of a draft wouldn't it?

I started out creating a list of our players that could leave, then I tried to fill in who we might be able to keep. The places where I have the draft spots were showing we at least have draft picks to cover them.

The draft is certainly going to be important in being able to fill some of those positions though.

We might be able to sign some free agents, but with our CAP, I think we will be lucky to keep some of own.

The truth is that the starting roles will probably be filled by currently rostered players like Willie Gay Jr, Darius Harris, Dorian O'Daniel, Mike Danna, Tershawn Wharton, and Yasir Durant. Let's hope they are ready.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by MAHOMO 4 LIFE!

Sorensen won’t cost that much to re sign. As for Fisher, our best bet is to extend him. Yes I know he’s coming off an injury but he’s a two time pro bowl LT and is very solid each and every year. It’s clear that they are a different team when Fishers starts, as Mahomes has a losing record (4-6) when Fisher is not starting. Re sign Fisher to a 5 mil dollar deal but incentivize it heavily through playing time and pro bowls. Also, I don’t like pushing Mahomes money down the road even more, he will be costing 50 mil a year very soon.

How is it "best bet" to extend a player you 1) don't know if will play again and 2) if he does play again will likely not be the same player/

[Wilson8]

For 2021, keeping your RFA players is kind of expensive. It is not worth it if they don't really contribute that much.

1st round $4,766,000.
2nd round $3,384,000.
Right of First Refusal $2,133,000

I think the Chiefs will still try to keep several of their RFA players, but they do it by trying to sign them for less money.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by Wilson8

For 2021, keeping your RFA players is kind of expensive. It is not worth it if they don't really contribute that much.

1st round $4,766,000.
2nd round $3,384,000.
Right of First Refusal $2,133,000

I think the Chiefs will still try to keep several of their RFA players, but they do it by trying to sign them for less money.

I tried to say this in a couple mocks out there. I see them putting a 2nd on Ward. I expect they'll ROFR Wylie but wouldn't necessarily advocate it. The rest will likely be allowed to hit FA and then the Chiefs try to bring them back on vet min type of deals.

You're certainly not paying 2.1 million to guys like Pringle and Williams.

[Wilson8]

In 2016 the cost for RFAs
1st round $3,582,000.
2nd round $2,516,000.
Right of First Refusal $1,647,000

I was thinking that RFAs used to be pretty cheap, but I guess the price was higher than I thought.

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by Delano

What was the reasoning on this bit here? Why extend elsewhere and not these two players?

Not sure about why they wouldn’t extend or restructure Jones, but hell no on doing so for Clark. A restructure just makes his $25+ million in 2022 & 2023 even worse, and extending makes no sense for an extremely overpriced player. He can play out 2021 on the current salary and be released after the season as a post June 1st cut without too big of a hit to the cap.

[Wilson8]

2021 Minimum salaries
0 years - $660,000
1 years - $780,000
2 years - $850,000
3 years - $920,000
4-6 years - $990,000
7+ years - $1,075,000
From page 171, Article 26, Salaries 2020 NFLPA CBA

“Exclusive Rights Player” means a player with fewer than three Accrued Seasons
whose contract has expired but who has received the Required Tender described in Article
8.

- NFL CBA

Overthecap.com has Byron Pringle being an RFA. Spotrac.com has him being a ERFA. I believe Overthecap.com to be correct. Spotrac is not considering the whole season that Byron was on IR for the Chiefs.

Exclusive Rights Free Agent (EFRA) is still pretty cheap in terms of NFL contracts. I'd sign Pringle pretty fast as a ERFA, but think Chiefs might want to negotiate a cheaper contract as a RFA

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

Not sure about why they wouldn’t extend or restructure Jones, but hell no on doing so for Clark. A restructure just makes his $25+ million in 2022 & 2023 even worse, and extending makes no sense for an extremely overpriced player. He can play out 2021 on the current salary and be released after the season as a post June 1st cut without too big of a hit to the cap.

I’m not sure that Jones is in their long term plans. He was brought back at lower value because of the whole Run It Back thing. And Mahomes left money on the table for it to happen. I’m not sure that Jones isn’t going to go for broke the next time he’s up for a contract.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

I’m not sure that Jones is in their long term plans. He was brought back at lower value because of the whole Run It Back thing. And Mahomes left money on the table for it to happen. I’m not sure that Jones isn’t going to go for broke the next time he’s up for a contract.

Hard to think he would give able to break a bank at 31 years of age.

[Wilson8]

Chiefs 2021 Contracts and Free Agents

OFFENSE

QB – 2
#15 Patrick Mahomes - Age 26, Cap $24,806,905
#4 Chad Henne - Age 36, Cap $1,625,000, Dead $375,000
Jordan Ta’amu – Age 24 $660,000
Anthony Gordon – Age 24 $660,000
#8 Matt Moore - Age 37, Free Agent

RB/FB – 4
#25 Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Age 22, Cap $2,459,449, Dead $7,988,291
#26 Damien Williams – Age 29, Cap $2,708,334, Dead $533,334
#34 Darwin Thompson – Age 24, Cap $891,960, Dead $63,920
Derrick Gore – Age 26, $660,000
#31 Darrel Williams – Age 26, RFA (Right of First Refusal $2,133,000 or attempt re-sign for less)
#42 Anthony Sherman – Age 32, Free Agent
#26 Le’Veon Bell – Age 29, Free Agent
#24 Elijah McGuire – Age 27, Free Agent

WR – 6
#10 Tyreek Hill, Age 27, Cap $15,850,500, Dead $5,300,000
#17 Mecole Hardman – Age 23, Cap $1,362,287, Dead $826,382
Chad Williams - Age 27, $920,000
Antonio Callaway Age 24, $920,000
#12 Gehrig Dieter – Age 28, $850,000
#1 Jody Fortson – Age 26, $660,000
#89 Maurice Ffrench – Age 24 , $660,000
#13 Byron Pringle – Age 28, RFA (Right of First Refusal $2,133,000 or attempt re-sign for less)
#14 Sammy Watkins – Age 28, Free Agent
#11 Demarcus Robinson – Age 27, Free Agent
#19 Marcus Kemp – Age 26, Free Agent
#19Tajae Sharp Age 27 Free Agent

OL – 9 to 10
#72 Eric Fisher – Age 30, Cap $15,150,418, Dead $3,181,668, Save $11,968,750 to cut
#71 Mitchell Schwartz – Age 32, Cap $9,848,750, Dead $3,750,000, Save $6,098,000 Cut
#76 Laurent Duvernay-Tardif – Age 30, Cap $4,750,000, Dead $6,750,000 Trade $2,000,000 Dead with Trade
#73 Nick Allegretti – Age 25, Cap $887,988, Dead $55,976
#74 Martinas Rankin – Age 26, Cap $920,000, Dead $0
#79 Yasir Durant – Age 23, Cap $783,333, Dead $6,667
Lucas Niang, - Age 23, $871,768, Dead $847,072
Prince Tega Wanogho $660,000
#68 Bryan Witzman – Age 31, $850,000
#61 Darryl Williams – Age 23, $660,000
#75 Mike Remmers – Age 32, Free Agent Try to re-sign
#77 Andrew Wylie – Age 27, RFA (2nd Round - $3,384,000 or Right of First Refusal $2,133,000)
#62 Austin Reiter, Age 30, Free Agent
#70 Kelechi Osemele – Age 32, Free Agent
#67 Daniel Kilgore – Age 32, Free Agent
#61 Stefen Wisniewski – Age 32 Free Agent
#60 Patrick Omameh – Age 32, Free Agent

TE – 3
#87 Travis Kelce – Age 32, Cap $13,250,400, Dead $12,250,000
#82 Deon Yelder – Age 25, RFA – Try to re-sign at a minimum deal
#48 Nick Keizer – Age 25, EFRA
Sean Culkin $850,000
Evan Baylis $780,000
#83 Ricky Seals-Jones – Age 26, Free Agent

DEFENSE

DL – 9
#55 Frank Clark – Age 28, Cap $25,800,000, Dead $38,900,000
#95 Chris Jones – Age 27, Cap $21,500,000, Dead $22,625,000
#91 Derrick Nnadi – Age 25, Cap $2,422,850, Dead $239,850
#99 Khalen Saunders – Age 24, Cap $1,103,795, Dead $457,590
#79 Tim Ward – Age 24, Cap $780,000, Dead $0
#51 Michael Danna – Age 24, Cap $845,915, Dead $197,745
#98 Tershawn Wharton – Age 23, Cap $781,666, Dead $3,334
#97 Austin Edwards – Age 24, $660,000
#52 Demone Harris – Age 26, $920,000
Tyler Clark – Age 22, $660,000
#94 Taco Charlton – Age 27, Free Agent – Try to re-sign IR
#92 Tanoh Kpassagnon– Age 27, Free Agent
#64 Mike Pennel – Age 30, Free Agent
#57 Alex Okafor – Age 30, Free Agent

LB – 5
#53 Anthony Hitchens – Age 29, Cap $10,661,250, Dead $8,447,500
#44 Dorian O’Daniel – Age 25, Cap $1,137,379, Dead $190,379
#47 Darius Harris – Age 25, Cap $780,000, Dead $0
#50 Willie Gay Jr – Age 23, Cap $1,197,965, Dead $1,767,270 injury
#59 Omari Cobb – Age 24, $660,000
#43 Emmanuel Smith – Age 26, $660,000
#54 Damien Wilson – Age 28, Free Agent
#56 Ben Niemann – Age 26, RFA - 2nd Round - $3,384,000, Right of First Refusal $2,133,000

S – 4
#32 Tyrann Mathieu – Age 29, Cap $19,733,334, Dead $4,933,334
#23 Armani Watts – Age 24, Cap $1,088,058, Dead $158,058
#22 Juan Thornhill – Age 25, Cap $1,258,709, Dead $688,278
#40 Rodney Clemons – Age 24, $660,000
#49 Daniel Sorensen – Age 31, Free Agent – Try to re-sign
.
CB/DB – 6
#27 Rashad Fenton – Age 24, Cap $898,205, Dead $76,410
#38 L’Jarius Sneed – Age 24, Cap $938,580, Dead $475,740
#29 Thakarius Bopete Keyes – Age 23, Cap $800,705, Dead $62,115
#30 Deandre Baker – Age 24, $850,000
#31 Chris Lammons – Age 25, $780,000
#30 Alex Brown– Age 25, EFRA
#21 Bashaud Breeland – Age 29, Free Agent - Try to Re-Sign, 2 year $10 M
#35 Charvarius Ward – Age 24, RFA (2nd Round - $3,384,000 or Right of First Refusal $2,133,000)
#20 Antonio Hamilton – Age 28, Free Agent

SPECIAL TEAMS
#7 K Harrison Butker – Age 25, Cap $3,940,000, Dead $3,710,000
#41 LS James Winchester – Age 31, Cap $1,100,000, Dead $100,000
#5 Tommy Townsend – Age 23, Cap $782,500, Dead $5,000

Dead – is the cap space allocated to a player that would be lost if player no longer with the team.

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

[Wilson8]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe a ERFA, if re-signed, would get the minimum pay for their years of service. So Keizer if they re-signed him, would receive $780,000 because he has 1 year of service.