The 3 worst contracts on the Kansas City Chiefs roster in 2024

It’s a great time to be a Kansas City sports fan. A playoff-contending baseball team, one of the top squads in the National Women's Soccer League, and strong collegiate football programs are all just around the corner if you live in the metro. And that’s not even mentioning the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs kicked off their preseason action against the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this month, finally ending what felt like an endless summer. It was a summer spent waiting for the defending Super Bowl champions to hit the field again. A summer spent hoping to see rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s game speed in action. A summer of anticipation for that familiar score bug on our screens, paired with the Chiefs’ arrowhead logo and that rich red backdrop.

The game had its share of positives and negatives, but that’s precisely why preseason exists. It’s not about standings, bragging rights, or even generating revenue—it’s about fine-tuning the roster and scheme before the grueling 18-week NFL season begins. It’s also a chance to adjust to the latest NFL rule changes.

One side effect of finalizing the 53-man roster is the inevitable impact on payroll. Some cap casualties and camp cuts will offer value elsewhere in the league, while some bad contracts make it nearly necessary to part ways with a player to operate smoothly in Week 1. Are there any such contracts in Kansas City? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean the Chiefs are entirely free of financial missteps.

I did this exercise ahead of the 2023 season, and even then, the pickings were slim. General manager Brett Veach has an impressive track record when it comes to free-agent acquisitions, especially compared to his peers. While fellow AFC teams like the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns are weighed down by hefty contracts for underperforming players, that’s largely not the case in Kansas City.

Well, for the most part, anyway.

Here are the three worst contracts in Kansas City ahead of the 2024 regular season. From skill players to cornerstone hopefuls, which deals are more of a ball and chain on the Chiefs’ payroll?

RT Jawaan Taylor

Overall deal: Four years, $80 million ($60 million guaranteed)
2024 numbers: $24.725 million cap hit ($20 million guaranteed salary)

There weren’t many positive takeaways from right tackle Jawaan Taylor's debut season in Kansas City. The transition from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Chiefs proved brutal in more ways than one. But the most glaring issue was that Taylor’s struggles came with a hefty financial burden on Kansas City's payroll.

When the Chiefs signed Taylor to a four-year, $80 million contract ahead of the 2023 season, it raised eyebrows. Sure, addressing the right tackle position was a priority, but investing so much in a player with known flaws wasn't exactly what fans had in mind. Still, with Veach’s track record, there was hope that this gamble would pay off.

First impressions are crucial, and Taylor’s first three weeks were a rough introduction. He racked up eight penalties in those opening games, leading to very costly flags. His difficulties with lining up correctly and cleanly getting off the snap drew significant criticism, even resulting in him being temporarily benched during games.

By the end of the season, Taylor led the league with 17 penalties—five more than the next closest player. The penalty yards, combined with his struggles in both run and pass blocking, left Chiefs fans frustrated. The patience extended to him in his first year has worn thin, and now Taylor must step up and justify his contract.

While Taylor isn’t the league’s highest-paid right tackle, his contract is tied for the third-highest in annual value. When teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions have secured elite talents on long-term deals, the Chiefs find themselves paying a premium for Taylor’s services—a premium that, so far, hasn’t delivered the expected returns.

WR Kadarius Toney

Overall deal: Four years, $13,719,508 ($13,719,508 guaranteed)
2024 numbers: $2,530,842 cap hit ($2,530,842 guaranteed salary)

While the Chiefs’ payroll lacks the albatross contracts that weigh down other teams around the league, this is a good problem to have. However, it does mean that some of the more minor contracts can still be labeled as "bad." Wide receiver Kadarius Toney’s contract, while not breaking the bank, undoubtedly falls into this category.

Toney wasn’t perfect in 2022 after being traded to Kansas City, but there was enough reason for optimism. Whether it was Brett Veach talking up Toney’s potential or the familiar role of a speedster in the Chiefs’ offense, Toney’s ceiling for 2023 seemed high. Saying he fell short of those expectations would be an understatement.

He posted career lows in starts, receiving yards, and yards per reception, among other stats. To put it in perspective, Toney had more receiving yards in just seven games in 2022 (171) than he did across 13 games in 2023 (169). Add to that a costly penalty against the Bills, and it’s hard to find any positives in Toney’s 2023 season. As we look ahead to 2024, every player gets a chance at a fresh start—but Toney’s path forward is anything but clear.

The former first-round pick now carries the third-highest cap hit among Chiefs wideouts and the seventh-highest guaranteed salary on the entire roster. Despite this, he’s buried on the depth chart, making his fresh start potentially a fresh start with his third team in as many seasons.

As it stands today, Toney is far from a lock to make Kansas City’s final 53-man roster. He quickly wore out his welcome with fans, and the Chiefs' coaching staff isn’t showing him any favoritism. His draft status, contract, or the trade assets used to acquire him won’t extend his tenure in Kansas City. The 25-year-old Alabama native now controls his own future with the Chiefs.

DE Charles Omenihu

Overall deal: Two years, $16,000,000 ($8,000,000 guaranteed)
2024 numbers: $10,970,000 cap hit ($2,000,000 guaranteed salary)

Call it bulletin board material or just plain wrong, but I don’t see how Kansas City should be satisfied with their return on investment in defensive end Charles Omenihu.

Brett Veach signed the former San Francisco 49ers pass rusher ahead of the 2023 season, but fans had to wait until mid-October for his debut. Omenihu was handed a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, stemming from a January 2023 arrest related to a domestic violence incident. While he provided an instant boost to the Chiefs’ defense when he finally took the field, missing more than a third of the season significantly diminished his overall impact.

Unfortunately, Omenihu’s availability issues didn’t end there. The veteran tore his ACL during last season’s AFC Championship game, casting doubt on his 2024 return. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Omenihu “isn’t expected back until November,” potentially sidelining him for the first half of the season. While the Chiefs can manage without him, this injury only strengthens the argument that his contract is an overpay.

Omenihu needs to make an immediate impact, much like he did in 2023. However, this time he faces the daunting challenge of returning from a serious injury. There’s a real possibility that the pass rusher could be limited to just 20 regular-season games with the Chiefs over two seasons. Combine that with a so-so postseason impact, and Omenihu’s contract starts to look like a bad deal for Kansas City.