5 Cuts That Could Create Cap Space for the Kansas City Chiefs

NFL franchises tend to make some moves that become frowned upon by fans. The move is questioned by fans pondering the idea of why the teams make certain decisions, especially when a player is cut.

Kansas City Chiefs fans saw this last year when the team cut ties with cornerback Brandon Flowers. The franchise was forced to make this decision to save cap room.

Fans forget the league is a business. Money is a factor in a lot of the decisions teams make.

The Chiefs currently find themselves in a bind as they have just $400,000 of cap space going into the 2015 offseason, according to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com.

The solution? Part ways with players who are hogging up the cap. What does this mean? Essentially, some fans won't be happy with the decisions because some of their favorite players will be let go. But it is a move that must be done if the franchise wants to move forward and improve.

WR Dwayne Bowe

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Dwayne Bowe is the obvious and top choice on this list. 

Since signing his five-year deal for $56 million two year ago, Bowe has not caught more than 60 passes in either season while combining for 1,427 yards. Bowe has been held below 900 yards and 60 or fewer catches in each of the last three years.

Bowe, clearly, does not possess the skills and talent for a No. 1 receiver. Would the Chiefs be better off without him?

Bowe will be the second-highest-paid Chiefs player behind Alex Smith. Bowe is set to make $14 million, but the Chiefs can create $5 million of cap space if he is let go by June 1.

LT Eric Fisher

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Eric Fisher is only two years in, and cutting a No. 1 draft pick after two seasons sounds asinine. However, given Fisher's drastic struggles, whether it is left tackle or right tackle, he has done the team few favors.

Fisher allowed 8.5 sacks as a rookie and surrendered eight more sacks this past season while committing 16 penalties, equating for 105 yards. Through his total sacks, Kansas City has been set back 79.5 yards. Penalties and sacks altogether, Fisher has cost the offense 184.5 yards through the 30 games he has played.

As for his contract, Fisher is projected to make a little more than $6 million and the Chiefs can free up a little more than $2.467 million if he is cut prior to June 1.

General manager John Dorsey has a tough decision to make with his first draft pick selection in Kansas City. With two bad seasons and a lot of money being spent on him, Dorsey has to figure out if it is worth keeping Fisher for 2015 and beyond.

TE Anthony Fasano

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Cutting Anthony Fasano gives the Chiefs $1.975 million of cap space, allowing them to use that money on multiple late-round picks or bring in a serviceable free agent. After Travis Kelce led the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns through the air, it is evident he should be the No. 1 tight end while Fasano is the backup.

But what do the Chiefs see in Fasano for 2015?

Fasano started 13 games while Kelce started in 11. Though the two differ immensely in receiving yards and catches this past year, Kelce finished with five touchdowns while Fasano was behind him by one touchdown, pulling in four.

Smith likes passing to tight ends, making Fasano an important part of the offense. But Fasano might be taking up too much cash for little production.

After being available in just nine games in his first year with the Chiefs in 2013, Fasano caught 23 passes for 200 yards. Despite playing in 15 games the following season, Fasano's numbers of 25 catches for 226 yards show slim improvement. Having Kelce played a huge part, as he became the primary target on offense.

If Kelce will get more starts and targets, the Chiefs would be better off cutting Fasano.

QB Chase Daniel

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Chase Daniel started in Week 17 games in 2013 and 2014 against San Diego when the Chargers were in a must-win position in order to make the playoffs. Daniel impressed a lot fans in both games.

In 2013, Chiefs coach Andy Reid benched all 22 starters. Yet Daniel succeeded with the second-team offense, putting the team in position to win, but it fell in overtime due to a field-goal miss from the Chiefs right before the end of regulation.

In 2014, Daniel was given a chance to lead the first-team offense as the Chiefs were also seeking a playoff spot. Daniel outplayed Philip Rivers, the opposing quarterback, and led the Chiefs to a blowout victory. 

While two games is an extremely small window, could Daniel's situations of stepping up during a crucial moment be enough to get a team to use a late-round pick for a trade?

If the Chiefs cut Daniel, they create $3 million in cap space.

In a very rare scene, Daniel, a backup quarterback, is the 10th-highest-paid player on the Chiefs right now going into 2015. If he remains on the team, he likely gets bumped down to 12th after possible negotiations with Justin Houston and Rodney Hudson, but that salary ranking is still high for a backup.

OLB Tamba Hali

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The Chiefs have some options with Tamba Hali this offseason and have to decide how much he is worth to the franchise in 2015. Hali has the third-highest cap number, making $11.96 million. If the Chiefs cut him before June 1, they free up $9 million in cap space.

Hali, however, said in an exclusive interview with 610 Sports Radio in Kansas City he willing to return for less money.

Alongside Houston, Hali is part of a ferocious defensive front seven, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks. While Houston had the dominant 22-sack season, Hali still had a big hand in helping Kansas City finish second in the NFL against the pass.

If the Chiefs can restructure his contract, it would benefit the Chiefs and both parties would be satisfied, given Hali went on the record to say he is comfortable with less money.

Salary info courtesy of Over The Cap.

Statistics courtesy of NFL.com and STATS, LLC.

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