The sting from the Kansas City Chiefs’ disappointing Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles has lessened. Now it’s time to focus on the 2025 season, precisely what the organization has been doing.
Writing about our beloved Kansas City Chiefs has been challenging since the Super Bowl loss. Still, this franchise has won three of the last six Super Bowls, and honestly, that’s impressive.
However, the bitter taste didn’t stem from the Chiefs’ losing the Super Bowl but rather from their manner of losing. I won’t focus on the negatives, but let’s be real: that loss could be a positive for the franchise.
Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach faces a challenging task. Based on the final figure of the 2025 salary cap, and without adjusting current contracts, the team has approximately $29 million in cap space available.
Patrick Mahomes carries a $66 million cap hit, Chris Jones nearly $39 million, Jawaan Taylor at $27 million, and Joe Thuney, who is in the last year of his deal, accounts for $27 million against the cap. Tight end Travis Kelce, also in the final year of his contract, has about $20 million.
Kelce, rumored to return to the Chiefs in 2025, will likely restructure his contract. The same applies to Thuney and Mahomes, which could provide the Chiefs with an additional $40 million in cap space.
That would place them in the top 15 and enable them to manage some of their free agents. With over 20 players set to enter the open market next month, the Kansas City Chiefs need to spend their money wisely, not only for the 2025 season but also for 2026 and 2027.
Mahomes’ contract was structured so that when significant cap hits occur in 2025, the Chiefs can void his current deal and offer him a very cap-friendly new contract while still ensuring Mahomes receives the compensation he deserves.
That addresses the cap space, but Veach must decide on free agent guard Trey Smith. Reportedly, his agents are seeking a deal that exceeds the $100 million mark. If that’s the case, Veach will unlikely agree to that figure. Furthermore, there has been no indication that the Chiefs will use the franchise tag on Smith, allowing him to explore the open market.
What will Veach do with that extra money this offseason?
Linebacker Nick Bolton has stated his desire to remain in Kansas City, and I would be surprised if the team doesn’t finalize a deal with the former Missouri Tiger. He is a key player in the Chiefs’ defense and has strong support from Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
There’s still a long list behind Bolton that includes DeAndre Hopkins, Justin Reid, Charles Omenihu, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kareem Hunt, Mike Pennel, Charles Winchester, Tershawn Wharton, Derrick Nnadi, and D.J. Humphries.
Every player contributed to the Chiefs’ success this past season. I could advocate for each one, but the reality and statistics suggest that only a few may return.
Given the franchise’s success, teams will be drawn to Chiefs players for two reasons: most of them have Super Bowl rings, and they might be able to lure them away from the Chiefs with a fortune.
Some players must choose between offering the Chiefs a cap-friendly deal or seeking better financial opportunities elsewhere. This decision is challenging for both the team and the player. Emotions are running high after a heartbreaking Super Bowl loss, complicating the determination of which players will wish to return to seek redemption for that painful defeat.
Regardless, Veach faces a challenging few weeks ahead. He might already know the strategy, which players could return, and whom he might potentially acquire through trade or free agency. If their cap number stays within the $60-70 million range, they can do as they please.
Veach has consistently approached free agency with a focus on three-year cycles. Although he signed multiple one-year contracts last year, including one with Hollywood Brown, this was part of the overall strategy. However, with the Chiefs appearing vulnerable now, maybe the three-year plan is reset.
KC’s general manager has expertly managed a significant roster change while operating under a salary cap heavily favoring the team’s star players, resulting in three Super Bowl victories. He plays chess while other GMs play checkers.
However, to stay in the upper echelon of the league hierarchy, he faces a challenging decision: to be aggressive early in free agency or to pursue secondary players to fill gaps after the market spends heavily.
With the NFL combine starting next week, Veach will move through the rooms, discussing ‘what if’ scenarios with agents about their clients and speaking with agents of players the team might want to keep.
I can’t predict what Veach will do, but we’ll likely see a more aggressive strategy at the start of the open market and efforts to retain some key internal free agents.
