(AP) — KANSAS CITY, MO According to a person familiar with the decision, the Kansas City Chiefs restructured quarterback Patrick
Mahomes’ deal on Wednesday, providing the Super Bowl champions with some much-needed salary cap flexibility.
Due to the confidentiality of the financial information, the source talked to the AP under condition of anonymity.
The Chiefs were able to free up over $21 million by renegotiating the contract, which would have added more than $58 million to the
cap for the following season. This can involve re-signing their own free agents, seeking assistance at wide receiver—something that has
received a lot of attention—or searching for a new left tackle to cover quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
In 2021, Mahomes also modified his 10-year, $450 million contract to assist the
Chris Jones, an All-Pro defensive tackle, has already signed a five-year, $158.75 million contract with the Chiefs, with $95 million
guaranteed for the first three years of the deal. However, the arrangement was made such that it only amounted to $7.35 million this
year, exceeding the maximum.
Before free agency officially opened on Wednesday, backup linebacker Drue Tranquill signed a three-year, $19 million contract to
rejoin the Chiefs. Defensive tackle Mike Pennel also inked a one-year contract to rejoin the team after contributing significantly to
their Super Bowl victory.
A further benefit of the added salary cap room could be the possibility of L’Jarius Sneed staying in Kansas City. Sneed quietly became
one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks the previous season. The Chiefs applied the franchise tag to him, meaning that
Now that they have more wiggle room, the Chiefs could sign him to a long-term contract or keep him at the tag figure.
“With Kansas City, there isn’t much of a recruiting pitch that needs to be made,” Tranquill stated on Wednesday. “From top to bottom,
your leadership is amazing. You have a winning culture that isn’t focused on egos, self-interest, or guys being paid. While we all want
our guys to be paid, winning and raising the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season are the main priorities at the Chiefs and in our
company.
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