Latest NFL news will make life easier for Chiefs GM Brett Veach as Kansas City prepares for pivotal 2025 offseason

According to a memo obtained by Graziano, the increase is substantial based on a $10 million decrease in 2024 to make up for a $9 million smoothing adjustment and a $1 million addition to performance-based pay. The NFL and NFLPA agreed that up to 50% of the $9 million could be recovered in 2025, with the remainder in 2026. 

The bottom line: NFL teams found between $3 million and $9 million in unexpected salary cap space under the couch cushions that can now be used for the 2025 NFL season.

What is the Chiefs' projected salary cap space for the 2025 NFL season? 

Before the latest NFL news, the Chiefs' salary cap situation was looking dire. Before any simple restructures or contract extensions, Kansas City was over $900K over the projected $272.5 million salary cap. 

According to the folks at Over The Cap, in the middle of the projected range at $279.5 million, the Chiefs would have $7.941 million in cap space available. At the low range of $277.5 million, they'd have $5.941 million in cap space available. At the high range of $281.5 million, they'd have $9.941 million in cap space available. 

Of course, that's all before the Chiefs do anything to create salary cap space. Even without the salary cap, Brett Veach could clear upward of $50 million in cap space with a few strokes of the pen on simple restructures to Patrick Mahomes, Jawaan Taylor, Creed Humphrey, and Drue Tranquill. An extension for Joe Thuney could also help. That also doesn't consider the salary cap implications of a potential Travis Kelce retirement. 

Ultimately, this will make Veach's job easier in terms of salary cap and free agency spending. It could even help the team keep some pending free agents or go after a higher-priced outside free agent for the 2025 NFL season.