The Kansas City Chiefs have pushed the easy button when it comes to taking on their extensive salary cap limitations before the NFL offseason begins. Joel Corry of Over the Cap broke the news on Wednesday that the team has restructured the contract of superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, which opens up over $43.56 million in salary cap room.
According to Corry, the Chiefs converted $54.45 million of Mahomes’ 2026 salary into a signing bonus. The move lowers Mahomes' cap hit this coming season from $78.2M to approximately $34.7M, giving general manager Brett Veach some breathing room on the books.
Further moves are forthcoming, since the Chiefs began the offseason with the league's worst cap situation. Even after restructuring Mahomes' deal, the Chiefs are still sitting with the fifth-worst cap space, per OTC, at $11.35M over budget at the present time.
The Chiefs created some much-needed cap space by restructuring Patrick Mahomes’ contract.
Outside of Mahomes, the Chiefs have other potential restructures, but the move to clear space in the present can wreak havoc down the road. That's why Veach must be selective about which deals to rework. For example, defensive tackle Chris Jones has a mammoth cap hit in 2026 at just under $45M, but as an aging pillar, it's likely better for the team just to swallow that amount and work around it in '26.
It's likely that the Chiefs will choose to restructure further deals with offensive linemen like Trey Smith and/or Creed Humphrey, knowing each would create several million for the coming season. Both interior linemen are elite performers squarely in their prime, players who should age well while earning their keep. Such extensions are the best ways in which a team like the Chiefs can create room while not being financially irresponsible later.
The Chiefs will also create salary cap room with some obvious (and not so obvious) player cuts. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor is the most likely candidate there, a projected move that's been coming for quite some time. However, other players who could find themselves on their way out of Kansas City for financial reasons include linebacker Drue Tranquill, offensive tackle Wanya Morris, and tight end Noah Gray.
For now, the Chiefs have officially made the first of several moves—and the easiest call of all—by restructuring Mahomes' contract for the coming year. There's a lot of financial maneuvering ahead knowing how much roster construction needs to be done following a total collapse from the NFL's summit.