The Facts: Big-money players across the NFL continue to restructure their contracts to open up salary-cap space ahead of the new league year, which opens on March 17. A triumvirate of Kansas City Chiefs stars will join that group. The Chiefs are restructuring the contracts of Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones, NFL Network's James Palmer reported, per a source informed of the plans.
Diehards Line:
The trio of moves is expected to free up enough salary cap space to where K.C. should start the new league year with around $20 million in cap room, Palmer added. Mahomes' contract includes a clause that the team can convert salary or bonuses into a signing bonus automatically -- i.e., they don't have to let the QB know they're performing the restructure. We're confident Mahomes isn't complaining about getting a lump of cash dumped into his account. The star QB was scheduled to count $24.8 million against the cap in 2021. Kelce was slated to count $13.25 million against the cap, with a base salary of $5.25 million and a roster bonus of $7 million. Jones was set to count $21.875 million against the cap, including a $20 million roster bonus. With major needs along the offensive line, Chiefs GM Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid surely already have a plan to use their freed-up cap space. In fact, Kansas City subsequently agreed to a five-year, $80 million deal with guard Joe Thuney, who offers an immediate upgrade.