Chiefs Possible Salary Cap Casualties in 2021 – No one was happier than I was when the Chiefs re-signed both Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones over the past ten days. The opportunity to tie them up for the foreseeable future gives the Chiefs an outstanding chance to #runitback. Their outlook for 2020 is exceptional but, beyond this season? I’m not so sure they will even have enough cap space to sign all the rookies they draft next year. That’s why there are a number of current players who could be cap casualties next offseason.
The Chiefs cap hit for the 2021 season is currently: $174,898,125. That’s before you add in the $5,822,909 it will take to get all their rookies signed this year. Assuming no other changes will be made to the salary cap this year, the total cap hit for next year is: $180,721, 034. The NFL Salary Cap for each team this season is $198.2M so it appears the Chiefs have plenty of room – about $18M+ — to makes moves to fill their roster next offseason, right? If you consider that their current 2021 list of player under contract only includes 3 inexperienced CBs: Rashad Fenton, L’Jarius Sneed, and Bopete Keyes… it means next offseason should be the end of the line for several other Chiefs.
That’s assuming the NFL Salary Cap remains the same or doesn’t go down. Below, Tyrann Mathieu makes a good point about not being the 6th best player on any team he’s ever played on but it goes to make a point: the Chiefs have so many great players in place to make a long run at another title. The coming years present the real problems because you can’t just win with a bunch of financially maxed out players taking up most of the salary cap. We don’t have to wait three or four years down the line to watch this dilemma unfold either. It begins next offseason.
Let’s take a look at some of the current Chiefs who may not be with the team in 2021.
Daniel Sorensen
I’ve been thinking Sorensen could end up being cut for the past two years now. Dirty Dan is not currently signed in 2021 so his $4M+ contract won’t be counted against the $180M+.
Austin Reiter
Reiter falls into this category as well. His salary this season is $3,758,334 and that will come off the books by the end of the coming league year.
Chad Henne
Henne is scheduled to make $1,625,000 this year. He’s contracted through 2021 as well for the same amount and I would expect him to be released next offseason in favor of a cheaper option. The Chiefs save $1.25M by releasing him next year.
Sammy Watkins
Watkins cap hit for this season is $15M and he’s not signed for next year so his salary won’t count either.
Bashaud Breeland
Bashaud Breeland isn’t contracted for 2021. His $3M won’t be counted against the 2021 books either.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
The Chiefs are likely in no-man’s land with LDT. He will be due $4M in 2021 and if he is cut then, he will cost $4M in Dead Cap while saving zero dollars. 2022 is when we will likely see LDT leave, unless he retires prior to that time. After all, he’s a doctor and has a career waiting for him. That may entice him to jump ship after this season, especially if the Chiefs win it all again.
Damien Wilson
Wilson is in this category as well since he’s only signed through this season. Losing him will be a big loss if they decide to cut ties with…
Anthony Hitchens
Hitchens is due $10,723,750 in 2021 with Dead Money of $8,447,500 and a mere Cap Savings of $2,276,250. Consequently, I doubt Hitchens is going anywhere next offseason either and Chiefs fans will have to wait until 2022 to see him leave which would give the team $8.5M in Cap Savings while still costing the Chiefs $4.22M in Dead Cap.
Tanoh Kpassagnon
KPass is scheduled to make $1,374,933 this season, the last year on his rookie deal. I can see him returning to K.C. if… he has a good year, but not too good. If he has a breakout year, he’ll essentially be auditioning to make bigger bucks with another team.
Demarcus Robinson
DRob will make $1,047,500 this season, the only season he is signed for with K.C.. I expect the Chiefs to draft another WR in 2021 so this is likely it for DRob.
James Winchester
Winchester is signed through 2021 and scheduled to make $1M next season. Cutting him would save the $1M and cost the Chiefs $100K in Dead Money, but I just just can’t see them making a change at long snapper, only to save so little.
Dorian O’Daniel
DoD has become a Special Teams only player. His 5 defensive snaps means he’s likely headed for another team in 2021. Although the Chiefs would save less than $1M to let him walk, they will likely do that in favor of a rookie to step into this ST’s role.
Ricky Seals-Jones
Seals-Jones is signed for this season only at $925,000. If he does well, I can see Veach bringing him back for for a minimal amount only. With Travis Kelce climbing in age, if Seals-Jones has a really good year, I could see a multi-year deal next offseason.
Armani Watts
Watts will cost the Chiefs just over $1M in 2021 but I don’t see him going anywhere as he is likely the replacement for Daniel Sorensen. This season will tell us a lot bout that prospect.
Mike Pennel
Pennel is only contracted through this season. Although he will turn 30 next offseason, really good 6-foot-4, 330 lbs. Defensive Linemen don’t grow on trees so there’s a chance he returns next year too. If Khalen Saunders and Derrick Nnadi develop even more this year, Pennel will likely exit next offseason.
Taco Charlton
Charlton is scheduled to make $825,000 on a one-year deal. If he does well this year, he could eb asked back on a minimum deal. Since this is a last hurrah of sorts for him, he may end up excelling and if that happens, he’ll get offers from other teams that K.C. won’t be able to match.
Darrel Williams
Darrel is scheduled to make $755,000 this year but isn’t tied up next season. Since there appears to be a logjam at the running back position here in K.C. I’d be surprised if he is back in 2021.
Ben Niemann
Niemann is supposed to make $752,000 this year and he’s not locked up for next season… yet. He should return to K.C. but only on a deal that is team friendly. He came to K.C. as a UDFA and has developed nicely. I expect him to remain with the Chiefs in 2021.
To maintain a competitive roster past this season, Brett Veach and Andy Reid will have to plan on the development of players more. They’ll also have to rely upon rookies playing on their rookie contracts to contribute, utilizing them early in their playing careers. Where the cap space will come from to continue to operate in the coming years is a mystery to me. I thought that going through the roster I’d find more players who could provide cap relief by cutting them next offseason. If you see those players, please let me know. I won’t be surprised to see Veach extend CB Charvarus Ward prior to next year. Otherwise, the CB position become problematic next offseason. Even if he does re-up Ward, the CB position will need attention next year. A high draft pick should be in order in 2021 at that position, I’d expect.
What do you think?
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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