Five Chiefs players who might be finished in Kansas City

With the Super Bowl celebrations finished up, here’s a look at five players who might have played their last games with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Teams that go to the Super Bowl tend to struggle following their shot at glory. In recent memory, franchises like the L.A. Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, and Carolina Panthers have all suffered from what has been deemed the “Super Bowl hangover..”

Are the Chiefs slated to suffer the same fate?

One major contributing factor to the rapid decline of teams that made it through the playoffs and into the big game is the rising value of a team’s own players, especially after a Super Bowl win. Getting named first team All-Pro or getting a spot at the Pro Bowl is nice, but being a Super Bowl champion (or even runner-up) also adds tremendously to a player’s resume and makes them a priority if and when they hit the free agent market.

Due to the limiting nature of the NFL’s salary cap, championship teams are forced to give up talent on both sides of the ball. For the Chiefs, that means that free agents-in-waiting or players needing extensions just became more expensive. With a tight budget and a mammoth new deal for Patrick Mahomes on the horizon, Chiefs Kingdom is going to see some fan favorites wear different colors next year.

Which players are most likely to leave the team? Where are they likely to land and how can the Chiefs cover their roster spot?

Note: Dustin Colquitt, Terrell Suggs, and LeSean McCoy are left off this list despite most likely leaving the team this offseason. The difference being that these three are in prime positions to retire and call it a career, especially after having gotten a ring.

Sammy Watkins is also not on this list because not even Watkins knows what he is going to do next season. Having a massive showing during the playoffs, Watkins proved he can still play and play well, but Watkins paid attention when Marshawn Lynch said “Take care of your chickens, take care of your mentals,” and is pondering anywhere from taking a year off to even an early retirement.

Also Note: At the time of publication, the new CBA is not finalized. The CBA will increase the cap in a way that will probably keep some of these players on the team since the Chiefs will be able to pay them what they deserve. With the owners approving the new deal already and the NFLPA set to vote any time now, the CBA will change the names on this list quiet a bit.