Setting The Odds For The Kansas City Chiefs Quarterbacks
By Ben Nielsen
Oct 13, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid (left) talks with quarterback Chase Daniel (10) against the Oakland Raiders in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 24-7. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
CHASE DANIEL
Contract: 2 years remaining and will be a free agent after 2015, 2015 cap hit is $4.8 million
Odds For 2015 Roster: 0%
Look, Daniel may have a decent shot at staying on the Chiefs through 2014 but he is sure as gone by this time next year. He can blame his contract for his pending release.
The Chiefs desperately need cap help for the 2015 season so they can retain Smith, Justin Houston, and a few other key free agents, while also having enough room to bring in what should be a large draft class. Plus, Dorsey may want a little extra room for a free agent add or two. Doing those things are going to made so much more difficult when your backup quarterback is costing $4.8 million against the cap.
Releasing Daniel and replacing him with quarterback who is on a rookie deal will save the Chiefs $3.3 million against the cap in 2015. That’s a significant sum of money the Chiefs can use towards improving the roster. Consider what an extra $3.3 million would have done for the Chiefs this offseason? Maybe the Chiefs are able to land DeSean Jackson or safety help? They certainly would have had the flexibility to do so with the added cap space.
Daniel’s contract is something the Chiefs are going to have to shred in the next 10 months, whether it is via a release or a small trade. Keeping him on board for another year if Bray proves to not be advancing would be fine – I’d put that shot at 50/50 – but Daniel is gone by the time free agency begins in March 2015.