Interesting article here. Not a huge fan of Verderame but he was at the Super Bowl and he does go to the combine. I think he gets some tips, albeit from Terez (who is a nice guy).
Here is the most interesting part of the article. 2021 and 2022 would be extremely difficult to manage.
Originally Posted by :
What the Chiefs can do with their money
Looking at Kansas City’s cap situation, it can release wide receiver Sammy Watkins and linebacker Damien Wilson, clearing out $18.5 million in space. Combined with rollover money and already existing room, that’s enough cash for Veach to tag Jones, re-sign a few other pending free agents and extend Patrick Mahomes.
Speaking of Mahomes, the 24-year-old quarterback is likely to soon be the highest-paid player in the league. This is another important factor to consider.
Let’s play GM for a moment and do the following to the Chiefs’ roster:
•Cut Sammy Watkins
•Cut Damien Wilson
•Cut Cam Erving
Extend Patrick Mahomes on a five-year, $200 million deal
Use franchise tag on Chris Jones
Allow $10 million for free agents and draft picks
Keep $2 million in emergency space
Using the Jared Goff and Carson Wentz extension structures as a template, Mahomes’ cap hit would approximately be $11 million this season. Factor in Jones’ tag and the $12 million outlined above, and Kansas City is laying out $35 million.
The Chiefs could do it. But while it’s palatable for 2020, what about 2021 and beyond?
If Kansas City gave Mahomes the aforementioned extension, his cap number would be enormous in 2021, potentially the full $40 million figure. If the Chiefs also signed Jones to Clark’s exact deal, the cap number would be $22.7 million in 2021.
If we account for a slight rise in the NFL salary cap both this year and next, it’ll be around $210 million. Under these parameters, Kansas City would be looking at the following cap hits in 2021:
Patrick Mahomes ($40M)
Frank Clark ($24.2M)
Chris Jones ($22.7)
Tyrann Mathieu ($19.7M)
Tyreek Hill ($15.7M)
In total, the top five players on the Chiefs would be earning $122.3 million, or 58 percent of the salary cap.
Going into this offseason with a projected $200 million salary cap, only one team is currently allocating more than 50 percent to their top five players: the Los Angeles Rams at 54 percent.
Kansas City can always create cap space with extensions and releases, but tying up such a large chunk of money in five players is dangerous. The Chiefs would be largely unable to sign any other meaningful free agents for a few years — including their own — while being completely reliant on the draft to restock departing talent.
In his three years at the helm, Veach has proven to believe in acquiring top-shelf talent and filling in around them with low-cost, high-upside veteran deals (see: Damien Williams, Stefen Wisniewski, Mike Pennel) and rookie deals.
Jones certainly fits Veach’s profile. The question is if he fits into Kansas City’s payroll.
Originally Posted by RunKC:
Fuller was just an example. If you are unable to pay for a huge salary for Jones, paying for a good corner at half that price would be worth it IMO.
Idk if that’s Fuller, Breeland or Chris Harris Jr. might be the best you can get if Jones is off the table
Chris Harris turned down a 2 year $25 million dollar offer last offseason. You aren’t getting him cheap. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
Fuller was just an example. If you are unable to pay for a huge salary for Jones, paying for a good corner at half that price would be worth it IMO.
Idk if that’s Fuller, Breeland or Chris Harris Jr. might be the best you can get if Jones is off the table
But that's what has gotten you in this to begin with. Going out and paying big cash to free agents, it adds up.
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
It would be super beneficial to this team if Jones is getting around $18 million and Mahomes is around $37-38 million.
Originally Posted by RunKC:
Fuller was just an example. If you are unable to pay for a huge salary for Jones, paying for a good corner at half that price would be worth it IMO.
Idk if that’s Fuller, Breeland or Chris Harris Jr. might be the best you can get if Jones is off the table
In this system, Fuller isn’t a corner. He’s a free safety and we just drafted one of those. [Reply]
Interesting note from Nate Taylor on the Times Ours pod...you could try to work with Jones with guaranteed money. Clark would have to give more, but that would come with winning.
We all know Mahomes has made Clark a shit ton more money. He needs to try to do what he can to get reasonable cap hits. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
You make it seem like that’s easy. We are about to have the top paid player in the world. Frank Clark is a top 10 paid player in football.
If Chris Jones wants Frank Clark money, that’s another top 10 contract of any position in football.
That’s not counting Landlord, Schwartz, Kelce, Fisher, Hill and Hitchens (2 more years).
It’s not as easy as you think
Frank is 20th in the NFL for average salary. But your point is still a good one. It’s hard to pay top dollar for very many guys on the roster. Frank is Top 4 for defensive line salary. Honey Badger is Top 3 in salary for all safeties. [Reply]
It's risky to sign Jones. It could work out, but it's risky. He has to stay healthy and perform at an elite level for multiple years. If he doesn't, it would cripple the Chiefs. [Reply]
Originally Posted by wachashi:
It's risky to sign Jones. It could work out, but it's risky. He has to stay healthy and perform at an elite level for multiple years. If he doesn't, it would cripple the Chiefs.
Outside of one year deals....every contract is risky. [Reply]
Interviews starts at 20:36, but the key part for this discussion is around 33:00....
Spags talks about how Jones makes other guys better around him, how all games start up front in terms of DL and OL, and how typically your SB champions have an OL and/or DL that really make them go.
The ‘keeping Jones’ meter is ticking upward IMO... [Reply]