Dec 7, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (82) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Chiefs 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to sever ties with wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.
One player not yet on the free agent market: #Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe. The expectation is that he will be, unless Chiefs can trade him.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2015
There are a few things to note.
First, it’s unclear whether this is just speculation or a reported rumor. Remember, just last week, Justin Houston was going to sign his franchise tender “immediately.”
Second, the Chiefs haven’t met with any big-name wideouts this offseason—as far as we know, at least—and it’s hard for me to believe that they’d dump their only consistent one without having a Plan B in place.
Third, if the Chiefs do parts ways with Bowe, the move will clear $5 million in cap space. Furthermore, if they were to give him a post-June 1 designation, that number would then jump to $11 million (this summer).
Both Andy Reid and John Dorsey have showered Bowe with praise over the past two seasons. That said, the latter is one of the main reasons why Randall Cobb—a potential replacement for No. 82—spent his first four seasons in Green Bay.
Regardless, Bowe isn’t being traded. No matter how he leaves (if he indeed does), Kansas City is on the hook for $9 million. However, his base salary for next season is $10.75 million, and it’s $9.75 million in both 2016 and 2017—no team is trading for that.
Personally, I think Rapoport was echoing the consensus around the league. Having said that, Spotrac estimates that the Chiefs have to, by Tuesday, clear $5 million-plus in cap space, and cutting Bowe would instantly grant them $5 million.
The numbers add up, but if we’ve learned anything within the past week, it’s to take rumors with a grain of salt.
Contract information provided by Spotrac.
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