Previewing Kansas City Chiefs' 2015 Salary Cap Situation
Many sports fans forget that much of sports is a business. In order for teams to have success, money must be spent in a smart manner as some become limited in what they can do. For the Kansas City Chiefs, they find themselves in a pickle with their salary cap going into the 2015 offseason.
According to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com, the Chiefs have around $400,000 of cap space going into 2015. This is where the business aspect comes into play, and fans won't like it, but the Chiefs will have to let go of a key veteran or two in order to free up space.
In this slideshow, we will preview Kansas City's 2015 salary cap situation and what can be done to improve it before re-signing players and preparing for free agency.
Alex Smith's Four-Year Contract Begins
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Prior to the 2014 regular season, Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith signed a four-year deal worth $68 million. The first of the four years begins in 2015 when Smith has a base salary of $11.9 million.
In a perfect world, the Chiefs would restructure his contract. But we all know Smith and his agent won't agree to that despite not playing like a quarterback who will receive nearly $12 million.
Smith will be the richest player on the team in 2015, and given that the team recently signed him to this deal, don't expect this to change for the upcoming season.
Dwayne Bowe to Make $10.75 Million
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Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe will make $10.75 million, which counts for the second most on the team. Yes, you're thinking that is too much for a receiver who has yet to log a 100-yard receiving game in the regular season and did not score a touchdown in all of 2014. He dropped a touchdown pass in Week 16 and fumbled one that he had in Week 17.
Looking back, John Dorsey, swung and miss when he agreed to give Bowe a $56 million deal through five years.
Like Smith, it would be nice if Bowe and his agent agreed to re-structuring his contract, but Bowe will make $30.25 million over the next three seasons and it is doubtful he gives that up.
Unless the Chiefs find a trade partner or release him and take a hit, the Chiefs will pay him a lot of money.
Chase Daniel One of the Top Paid QBs
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Chiefs backup quarterback Chase Daniel finished 2014 as the highest paid quarterback on the team and the 17th highest paid quarterback between Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. For 2015, the Chiefs have two quarterbacks who will be in the top 25 in terms of money as Daniel is set be the 19th richest quarterback for 2015 while Smith will be ninth.
Daniel is set to make $3.75 million in the final year of his three-year $10 million deal. The contract offer from Dorsey for a backup is still a mystery to everyone. But if there is any good news, it is that Daniel can be used to trade—and no, he won't start for the Chiefs next year.
Daniel played in Week 17 of last year in San Diego where he went 21-of-30 passing for 200 yards and a touchdown, finishing with a 99.3 quarterback rating. This year, Daniel played again in the final game against the same team, but this time at home. Daniel completed 16 of his 27 passes for 157 yards for no touchdowns, no interceptions and suffered four sacks. While the numbers don't show it, Daniel played aggressively and helped the offense move the chains. Due to the limited talent around him, the team had to settle for field goals while only coming away with one touchdown.
Given what Daniel has proven in two games, some teams in the NFL could use him, allowing the Chiefs to trade him and free up some cap space.
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Tamba Hali a Possible Cut-Casualty
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This is the part where we discuss the business side of things. The "business side" generally has a negative connotation to it because it usually leads to a team having to cut a really good player who could be one of the fan favorites.
But this is done to free up cap space, which the Chiefs desperately need to do.
Pro Bowler and outside linebacker Tamba Hali may be cut while he is set to make $6.75 million. Another option is to trade Hali. Given that Hali has received Pro Bowl honors in each of the last five seasons, the Chiefs have a reason to put a high price on him in trade negotiations, despite the fact he is 31 years old.
Unless Hali agrees to re-structure his contract, it is likely he has played his last game as a Chief.
Eric Berry
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Eric Berry was set to be the highest paid Chief and highest paid safety in 2014. But 2014 was a tough year for Berry, who appeared in just six games.
Berry missed five games between Week 3 and Week 8 when he sustained a high ankle sprain against Denver in Week 2. Following a loss against Oakland in Week 12, Berry informed team doctors about chest pain from the loss. A mass was discovered in his chest and it was later confirmed he has Hodgkin's lymphoma.
According to Spotrac, Berry was not awarded the $8.417 million for being placed on the non-football injury list and missing 10 games.
Berry is going into the final year of his rookie contract and is projected to make $5.155 million if he plays. If his health prevents him from playing in 2015, the Chiefs have a little more cap room and could sign a player to a short deal to help fill that space.
Contract details courtesy of Spotrac.com. Base salary information used for all figures unless noted otherwise.
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