The Kansas City Chiefs window is wider and narrower than expected

Why the Super Bowl window is narrower for the Kansas City Chiefs

Cap Space:

John Dorsey was a shrewd talent evaluator, but salary cap management during his tenure was suspect. Players were signed a year too late. There were some misfires at wide receiver, and the Chiefs were perennially up against the cap. That hasn’t changed too much, and the Chiefs are still woefully under-using the NFL’s cap rollover provision.

They do have cap room this year, but after signing Tyreek Hill, Chris Jones, and placing the Franchise Tag on Dee Ford there won’t be much left (assuming they go this route). The quarterback rookie deal gives you room to wheel and deal, but the Chiefs don’t have as much room to begin with due to past commitments.

Free Agency Destination:

It stands to reason that Mahomes could attract free agents who conventionally wouldn’t come to Kansas City. This effect in free agency is still to be determined, but until free agents start to sign, let’s not assume that Kansas City will become a free agent destination.

While I would be delighted to be flat out wrong on this, let’s wait and see. Remember, the New York Knicks have been ‘in thinning’ for every major free agent since Lebron James’ first ‘Decision’. Sometimes, a place that seems to be a logical destination simply isn’t.  Let’s keep a more level head, Kansas City.

In contrast, the Rams, who were aggressive last off-season in building their defense while utilizing Jared Goff rookie contract, are in Los Angeles. Even a die-hard Midwesterner like myself has to admit that Los Angeles has pull for most people, its hard to deny.

The Patriots:

In a league that demands parity, the New England Patriots have beaten the system. They stand in the way of any AFC contender in a manner that is unprecedented. Brady and Belichick will not be around forever, but they make short-term prospects for a championship quite turbulent. Just imagine how the careers of Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger (and even Phillip Rivers) would be re-defined in the absence of this historic Patriots run. That run is still not over. When considering a run-of-the-mill championship window, a behemoth like this is not often factored in but must be in the Chiefs’ case.

So what is the window?

The Chiefs’ Super Bowl window isn’t wide open simply because Mahomes is on his rookie contract. It also won’t slam shut when he signs his second deal. Mahomes has proven that he doesn’t need an elite level defense around him to be successful, meaning the sense of urgency to surround him with supreme talent is not as great.

For many quarterbacks, their talent-level dictate that the single best chance to be successful is when they are on cap friendly rookie deals and that cap room can be used to surround them with talent. Mahomes has no such limitation.

The Chiefs’ window will exist in every year Mahomes is on the team because he can single-handedly hold it open. The only thing that truly changes is just how open it really is in any given year.