Cap Breakdown: Restructures And Roster Cuts For The Kansas City Chiefs
By Brett Gering
Potential Cuts (Part One)
Sep 14, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali (91) during the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Tamba Hali
I love Hali as much as the next Kansas Citian, but on paper, his release makes a lot of sense. The move would offer $9 million in cap relief, and Dee Ford is champing at the bit to prove his worth.
In 2014, Hali’s six sacks were the second-fewest of his career, and he has faded in the latter half of each of the last two seasons. Being that he would account for the team’s third-highest cap hit, and his backup is this year’s first-round pick, it makes little sense to retain him, even if it were to be at a slightly reduced price.
Dwayne Bowe
Unless the receiving corps gets a serious makeover, I’d bank on Bowe staying in Kansas City. While a number of starting-caliber wideouts are set to become free agents, only a fraction of them will actually see the market.
No GM is going to offer Bowe the $11 million salary outlined in his current contract, which gives Dorsey leverage in any renegotiations.
However, if the parties can’t meet in the middle, the vet may be sent packing.
Derrick Johnson
Although he’s coming off an Achilles injury, Johnson’s cap hit is less than half of Hali’s, and he doesn’t have a budding prospect breathing down his neck. (Josh Mauga tied for the second-most missed tackles among NFL inside linebackers last year.)
While Dorsey may draft No. 56’s successor this summer, the newcomer would likely need a year or so of grooming before he could hold his own as a starter.
Prior to injury, Johnson, even at 32 years old, didn’t show any signs of aging. The Chiefs will likely let him play out the last year of his contract.
Mike DeVito
Like Johnson, DeVito will enter 2015 with a surgically repaired Achilles.
Throughout the regular season, only two defenses allowed more yards per carry than Kansas City (4.7). However, unlike Johnson, DeVito is a one-dimensional player, and the team already has a number of in-house options to replace him (namely Jaye Howard and Vance Walker).
The vet currently claims the eighth-highest cap number of the 2015 roster.
Chase Daniel
If next season started today, Daniel would account for the 23rd-highest cap hit among NFL quarterbacks.
Cutting him would add $3.8 million in cap room, and the team already has three younger passers with higher ceilings on the payroll.
Anthony Fasano
Fasano’s fate is far less clear-cut than most of his peers’. He’ll be 31 years old by the time next season rolls around, and he’s the second-best tight end on the team, but releasing him would only result in $1.975 million of cap room.
If the Chiefs decide to part ways with Fasano, they might tag him as a post-June 1 cut. The decision would create $3.1 million in 2015 cap space and just $1.125 million in 2016 dead money.
Considering Demetrius Harris’ inconsistencies, though, don’t be surprised if Fasano stays another year.
Next: Potential Cuts (Part Two)