As the roster construction is largely finished, here's a look at the most expensive players against the cap for the Chiefs in 2024.
If you're looking for a good bit of trivia, you've come to the right place. Looking through the finances of the Kansas City Chiefs' expenses yields some interesting findings. Specifically when it comes to the biggest cap hits on the books for the 2024 season, the list is not at all what you'd expect—at least positionally speaking.
Typically a team is on the hook for expensive deals at quarterback, wide receiver, left tackle, pass rusher, and cornerback. The Chiefs have checked just one of those boxes officially with some adjustments made for others and complete surprises involved as well.
No one is here to argue with the process, however. Three Super Bowl wins in five seasons speaks for itself. If anything, the rest of the league should be looking at breaking or bending the rules in similar ways to the Chiefs.
Here's a look at the top five hits on the Chiefs cap space this year and a bit about each contract. (All figures from Spotrac.)
1. Patrick Mahomes
Cap Hit (% of cap): $37.01M (14.49%)
This deal was applauded when it was first signed and it will continue to receive rave reviews. That's what happens when you have a real live magician as your quarterback, a playmaker who is charting his own course through NFL history while still firmly in his twenties. This contract will morph over time as the Chiefs update it and finances allow, but no one will ever argue with whatever number the Chiefs want to throw at Mahomes.
2 Joe Thuney
Cap Hit (% of cap): $26.97M (10.56%)
The Chiefs are paying a couple of young players to play left tackle on rookie deals, so it makes sense that the Chiefs could spend elsewhere along the offensive line. Guards are making more money than ever after this year, but Joe Thuney is the best pass blocker in the business (if you ask us). The second-highest cap hit is intriguing but not concerning. He's the true anchor up front.
3. Jawaan Taylor
Cap Hit (% of cap): $37.01M (9.68%)
Speaking of expensive linemen, it'd be interesting to see if the Chiefs would redo this deal or not. Solid arguments can be made both ways. The penalties are a bit much and the price tag here is a bit steep, but Taylor was also saddled with unfairly applied labels last year that wouldn't allow some fans to see his athleticism or upside. The truth is that he's a very good right tackle.
4. Travis Kelce
Cap Hit (% of cap): $19.55M (7.66%)
Kelce would be a bit lower on this list if not for a recent raise, but Brett Veach did right by his star tight end. Then again, Veach has been reaping the rewards of having one of the league's elite pass catchers sitting in a discount shelf because of his positional attribution. This is one of those areas where the Chiefs break the rules because they lack a wideout here, but Kelce is clearly playing that role.
5. Justin Reid
Cap Hit (% of cap): $14.25M (5.58%)
Here's the rule that breaks them all. A safety in the top five? Most teams hardly pay their safeties much of anything at all, and teams can find solid veterans in free agency for a pittance compared to their impact. But here's the thing: the entire secondary sans Reid consists of rookie deals. Every other corner and safety are basically making league minimums or small potatoes, and Reid plays an important leadership role here, too. If this was a long-term arrangement, the Chiefs would rethink it, but playing out the final deal of his original three-year pact makes sense.