Cap Breakdown: Restructures And Roster Cuts For The Kansas City Chiefs

Candidates For Renegotiating

Dec 7, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (82) leaps over Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) and safety Rashad Johnson (26) in the second quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Dwayne Bowe

A few factors come into play here.

First, let’s agree on two things: (1) Bowe is overpaid; (2) Bowe is the team’s best wideout.

Here are his 2014 stats versus every other wide receiver combined:

[table id=56 /]

Regardless of whether he takes a pay cut or tests the market, Bowe probably isn’t going to see the $11 million salary (including workout bonus) that he’s scheduled for. That said, if the Chiefs cut him, they better draft one hell of a wideout.

That isn’t to say Bowe is an All-World playmaker, but aside from injuries and inexperience, his sidekicks brought little to the 2014 table.

Andy Reid praises him, and by all accounts, Bowe is far from the diva-esque wideout that he was reputed as when first entering the league.

Also, while a handful of worthy replacements are set to hit the market, Kansas City, especially after Houston and Hudson are re-signed (irrespective of how), likely won’t have a lot of change to spare. All things considered, guys like Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas aren’t flying to KCI, and Green Bay would be foolish to let Randall Cobb test the market.

Releasing Bowe would generate $5 million in cap space, while cutting him with a post-June 1 designation would free up $11 million in 2015 but eat up $3 million in 2016 cap room.

In all likelihood, Bowe probably won’t settle for anything less than $6 to $7 million next season. If that’s the case, the team may look to keep the vet onboard for another year and draft his potential replacement this summer.

Tamba Hali

Hali isn’t returning with a nearly $12 million price tag.

Unless he and Bowe take massive pay cuts (and Kansas City axes a handful of players), all signs point to the open market for No. 91. As it stands, his 2015 cap hit ranks No. 4 among the league’s outside linebackers.

Eric Berry

No matter if he’s back on the field or waging war on lymphoma next year, No. 29 isn’t going anywhere. Releasing him would spawn a PR disaster and cause tension between the organization and its players.

Furthermore, assuming he does return to the field at some point, Berry was Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 safety in 2013. Everything else aside, you might want to hang on to that kind of player.

If anything, the Chiefs may reduce the safety’s 2015 salary.

Next: Potential Cuts (Part One)