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The Kansas City Chiefs have made significant financial moves this offseason. To create cap space, the team restructured the contracts of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and defensive tackle Chris Jones.
These adjustments cleared nearly $50 million in salary cap room, per ESPN. The move allows the Chiefs to finalize recent deals with free agents like Jaylon Moore and Kristian Fulton.
Chiefs Free Up Nearly $50 Million
Kansas City entered the offseason projected to be over the 2025 salary cap. According to Over the Cap, the team was more than $19 million over before these adjustments.
Mahomes’ contract was originally set to count $28 million against the cap. Jones carried a $23.6 million cap hit before his deal was restructured.
By converting portions of their salaries into signing bonuses, the Chiefs gained immediate flexibility. This approach is common for teams needing short-term cap relief without cutting key players.
Impact on the Roster Moves
Now with Kansas City creating the additional cap space, they are able to take care of their recent signing. Such as offensive tackle Jaylen Moore who joined the team on a two-year, $30 million deal to help protect Mahomes blindslide at the left tackle position.
The Chiefs also recently just signed cornerback Kristian Fulton on a two-year, $20 million contract as well. Adding another veteran to their defense and cornerback room to pair alongside one of the top corners in all of the NFL Trent McDuffie.
Kansas City also recently acquired Elijah Mitchell to add to their running back room, as well as made multiple resigning to keep some of their players in-house. This reconstruction allowed for the flexibility for these moves to be able to be fulfilled while also still providing the Chiefs with a cushion so they are not over the cap, and are able to make further moves if they decide to do so.
Final Thoughts
Mahomes remains under contract with the Chiefs through the 2031 season, while Jones is signed with the team until 2028. Both of their restructures were vital components of allowing the Chiefs to be able to go out and make the signings they have so far, and still be able to work on making further additions.
Kansas City’s front office led by general manager Brett Veach has continued to stay on top of managing the team’s cap strategically. With several signings completed, the team has positioned itself to meet the NFL’s cap requirements while also giving themselves the ability to add new players on their roster to replenish any losses they have had so far during free agency.
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Spencer Jones just proved to the Yankees why he is indispensable
When one is referred to as “Aaron Judge” without, in fact, being Aaron Judge, it holds significant weight. When Yankees prospect Spencer Jones was dubbed the “left-handed Aaron Judge,” it appeared the artistic license used to craft such a moniker had been frivolously abused. The only thing the two men had in common was height. But now, the inner-Aaron Judge has been released, and it was on full display in Thursday afternoon’s SWB RailRiders’ game. In a 3-for-5 showing, Jones mashed three home runs, pushing his home run total between Double-A and Triple-A to 29 — the highest mark in minor league baseball. It also brings his slash line up to .314/.411/.706. His speed has been an asset as well, having swiped 16 bags in 18 attempts this season. Jones didn’t start the year flying so high, but toward the end of his time with the Double-A Somerset Patriots, he caught fire. His stats in Triple-A can more than attest to how hot his bat has been. In just 80 at-bats with the RailRiders, Jones is hitting .400/.457/.950 with 13 home runs. That comes out to an unfathomable OPS of 1.407. Not surprisingly, Jones’ name has been tossed about in trade discussions. Recently bumped down to the No. 4 spot in the Yankees’ farm system — on a prospects list that no longer includes Jasson Dominguez — it seems Jones’ overall value is yet to embark on its overdue ascent. This might mean any team could snatch him at a discount if Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had it in mind to deal him. There are numerous reasons not to trade Jones, the most relevant being that Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham could leave in free agency this winter, thus creating a hole in the outfield. But above all else, the Yankees need to value Jones as their potential future. There is a chance Jones will regress heavily at the major league level, but he could become a left-handed Aaron Judge — or at least something kind of similar. And with a short right porch, that sounds pretty good.
Yankees among teams in talks to acquire Padres starter
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has stirred up a whirlwind, looking to fulfill his priority of bringing a frontline starter to New York. In his latest round of relentless phone calls, MLB insider Jon Heyman reports that Cashman spoke to San Diego Padres general manager, A.J. Preller, about two-time Cy Young candidate Dylan Cease. Cease has been a source of interest for MLB teams since 2022, when he pitched to a spectacular 2.20 ERA with 227 strikeouts in 184 innings, coming second in the Cy Young voting. Landing with the Padres last season, Cease again flashed potential, tossing to a 3.47 ERA with 224 strikeouts through 189.1 innings of work. That year, he placed fourth in Cy Young voting. But as much as Cease is talented, he is also flawed. In 2023, just after his best year, Cease posted a lackluster 4.58 ERA, and this season has been no better. Through 113.2 innings this year, Cease owns a 4.59 ERA with 144 strikeouts. Cease has been quite the strikeout artist since his debut, but the rest of his results haven’t always been that good. His 42 walks and 16 home runs surrendered on the year make him a risky bet. According to Heyman, the Yankees are one of four teams that have “checked in” on Cease. He notes that trading Cease is a long shot since the Padres are in contention, but they still may be inclined to do so as he is in the last year of his contract. One might also add that his performance this year probably won’t help them reach the World Series. For the Yankees, or any other interested team for that matter, dealing prospects or players for a slumping half-year rental might not be the best idea. Still, the Padres might just receive a decent haul for Cease since the market for spotless, front-line aces is non-existent at this trade deadline.
Bucks executive opens up on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors
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