The Kansas City Chiefs are knee-deep in preparation ahead of the annual Arrowhead Invitational, hosting the rival Buffalo Bills this year. But, for 28 other teams around the NFL, the offseason process is front and center since their respective seasons are over. That is a problem the Chiefs have been unfamiliar with in recent years, but that time will inevitably come. When it does, Bleacher Report listed out three of Kansas City's "top potential cap casualties," including two All-Pros.
He isn't the first one listed, but the writers at Bleacher Report have the gall to suggest Kansas City cutting tight end Travis Kelce following this season. Yes, the same Kelce who accounted for 117 of quarterback Patrick Mahomes' 177 passing yards in last week's divisional win. It's the same player who has the most 100-yard receiving games in NFL postseason history. That guy.
This angle of Travis Kelce's 49-yard catch and run 👀#HOUvsKC | ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/HFBlRKjqev
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 18, 2025
Granted, Kelce's 2025 cap hit is pretty steep for a player turning 36 later this year. His 823 receiving yards and three touchdown catches were both career worsts in a season, but the veteran Kelce has the chemistry with Mahomes that money can't buy. His $19,801,946 cap hit will be a big pill to swallow, but one worthwhile if Kelce decides against retirement.
Bleacher Report suggests that Travis Kelce is a possible Kansas City Chiefs cut candidate
Meanwhile, offensive lineman Joe Thuney was the top cut option, according to Bleacher Report. He was the veteran leader of that interior offensive line, but with his guard partner Trey Smith set to be a free agent this coming spring, there is a choice to be made—and B/R suggests that the Chiefs could choose Smith instead. They write, "Thuney has just one year left on his deal, and they can create $16 million in 2025 cap space with a $10.9 million dead-cap charge by releasing him before June 1. That would allow them to keep the duo of Smith and Humphrey together for a long time."
Wide receiver Skyy Moore rounds out the list of potential cuts, a move that feels more likely than the other two. After being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Moore has failed to live up to expectations. Bleacher Report noted bluntly, "he might have been cut during the season if it weren't for the core injury that sent him to the injured reserve." With a reduced role and limited production, releasing Moore would save $1.6M in 2025—a small but meaningful step toward financial flexibility.
While Kelce's cutting feels laughable, at best, Thuney's may be something Chiefs fans should prepare for. Kansas City has $11,503,627 in cap space ahead of the 2025 season, and that only accounts for 38 players and not for rookies or the remaining players to round out a roster. Over the Cap has the Chiefs in the red when projecting spending for a 51-man roster, to the tune of $2,056,966 over the cap. If Kansas City wants any hope of retaining their pending free agents or adding more to the fold, there will be some more cap gymnastics from general manager Brett Veach.
But that is a later problem.