Chiefs GM: Tyrann Mathieu contract extension 'tricky' due to cap space

Tyrann Mathieu is headed into the final year of his contract, but the Kansas City Chiefs might not be able to sign him to an extension because money is tight. 

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach addressed the situation with reporters Wednesday, acknowledging that Kansas City will already be over the cap next year without a Mathieu extension. Veach said, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher:

"The landscape is super tricky. We're at a $30 million [salary-cap] deficit from what we thought, and next year it's $15 million. Right now some things are out of our control just because of the cap reductions this year and next year. If you look at our books for next year, we're going to be over by a bunch.

"Right now we're counting Orlando [Brown] on a [franchise] tag, but we think he's going to play well, and we're going to extend him, and that opens up space. Restructuring [with other players] opens up space. Some guys moving on will open up space.

"It's frustrating because we're handicapped a little, and there are only certain things we can do to make it make sense for him. But where we are now is going to be completely different than where we will be once the season ends, and we have a lot more clarity on contracts and how the money is disbursed and allocated and how we can fit things and how we can make it work. It's just tricky right now. But it has nothing to do with us not wanting him or him not wanting to be here. It's just one of those unfortunate timing things."

Mathieu has maintained he wants to finish his career with the Chiefs and said last month that he wasn't disappointed the team has not yet extended his contract because he's focused on football. 

However, his recent Twitter activity might suggest otherwise. After the Seattle Seahawks signed Jamal Adams to a four-year, $70 million deal, Mathieu responded to a tweet wondering how Adams' extension would affect him, saying, "the disrespect is noted."