Chiefs have difficult decisions after this season
By John McCarty
First, Eric Berry. Currently playing under the 2016 safety franchise tag, tagging him again would cost $12.96 million in 2017. Poe would be sitting at $15.07 million.
Another factor, though not a huge issue, is the NFL Draft. The current draft class counts just under $5 million in a total cap hit at $4.7 million, and appears to value close to $6 million in total cap hits next season in 2017. The Chiefs draft class of 2017, assuming they use a first-round pick, will likely command a total of $5 million in cap space, thus limiting what the Chiefs have to use.
If we want to determine perhaps a more approximate cap commitment for 2017, we can say the Chiefs have close at $170 million in 2017. Dorsey and Co. will need to find some cap room.
First and foremost, the Chiefs will likely choose between either Nick Foles or Alex Smith this offseason. Both have big cap numbers. Releasing Foles after the season saves the Chiefs $10.75 million against the cap. Which leads to the next player, running back Jamaal Charles.
Charles is a fan favorite, and arguably the best running back to ever play for the Chiefs. He is the organization’s all-time leading rusher with 7,260 rushing yards and is currently has the highest yards per carry in league history. We are discussing someone that’s just on the outside looking in on the Hall of Fame. And we’re also talking about a player the Chiefs are almost certainly to release this off season.
Due $7 million next year, Charles, much like Foles, has zero guaranteed money left on his contract. This December, Charles will reached the dreaded 30 years of age, the scarlet letter of football running backs. With the emergence of Spencer Ware along with the contribution of Charcandrick West, it’s hard to imagine the Chiefs bringing back No. 25.
There are a few other names to keep an eye on this offseason as men who could find themselves on the wrong end of the salary cap equation are fullback Anthony Sherman and punter Dustin Colquitt. Kansas City saves $1.8 million cutting Sherman and $4.1 moving on from Colquitt.