Chiefs have option to be aggressive in free agency
The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have much cap space, but general manager Brett Veach can change that reality with a few big moves.
Don’t underestimate what the Kansas City Chiefs can do in free agency.
Kansas City doesn’t appear to have many avenues for improvement when first surveying their situation. The Chiefs, according to Over The Cap, have only $3.45 million in cap space to work with. This despite needing to either tag or re-sign star left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., along with defensive captain and safety Tyrann Mathieu who is also hitting unrestricted free agency for the third time in his career.
So why the optimism about Kansas City’s chances to improve a roster looking to host its fifth consecutive AFC title game, while getting to a third Super Bowl in four years? Maneuverability.
Veach has the option to release both linebacker Anthony Hitchens and edge rusher Frank Clark, opening up $21.1 million in cap space. Additionally, the Chiefs can move some of Patrick Mahomes’ money down the line and spread it over the duration of his 12-year contract, saving a whopping $22.7 million. Finally, star receiver Tyreek Hill is entering the final year of his deal and is due $20.685 million against the cap. If the Chiefs can extend him before the new league year begins on March 16, that could be another $15 million in space.
Do the math, and by extending one great player, cutting two who may have played their best football and restructuring Mahomes, the Chiefs would add roughly $58.8 million in money to spend. Even with the worst-case scenario (from a cap standpoint) playing out and the team tagging Brown, it would still have approximately $2 million to use on the remainder of the roster.
If Kansas City makes these moves, expect Veach to be aggressive. The Chiefs have consistently been in the market to add top-tier players since Veach took over. In 2018, Kansas City spent lavishly on the first day of free agency, landing Hitchens and receiver Sammy Watkins. The following offseason, Kansas City landed Clark in a huge trade while signing Mathieu. In 2020, the Chiefs kept their championship team together with some cap gymnastics. Last offseason, it was the signings of guard Joe Thuney to an $80 million deal, along with the trade for Brown, acquiring him from the Baltimore Ravens.
It may appear Kansas City doesn’t have the chance to upgrade, but dig deeper, and there’s plenty for it to do.
