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Direckshun · 08-06-2020, 09:53 PM

So let's make a key assumption here.

Let's assume that the 2021 salary cap stays flat from its 2020 level, of $198m.

According to OverTheCap, the Chiefs cap space is $205m in 2021. Which means, we're starting at $7m over cap.

Here's what the team looks like in 2021: https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/kansas-city-chiefs/

That's prior to draft picks (an additional $6m). And that's with a bevy of players hitting free agency that will need to be replaced:

FB Anthony Sherman
WR Sammy Watkins
WR Demarcus Robinson
TE Ricky Seals-Jones?
C Austin Reiter
DT Mike Pennel
DE Tanoh Kpassgnon
LB Damien Wilson
CB Bashaud Breeland
S Daniel Sorensen

Ward will be looking for a payday, too, which we may or may not grant him.

So your best shot for saving money and getting under the cap is by extending players who are currently making bank.

Tyrann Matthieu (his 2021 cap number is $19.7m)
Eric Fisher ($14.7m)
Mitchell Schwartz ($10m)
Travis Kelce ($9m)

Now you can save a lot of money by extending all these guys, but you probably aren't interested in extending both of your tackles -- this is why you brought in Niang to begin with. And giving Niang a season to learn in 2020 would give the Chiefs a good idea if he could handle LT duties, which would allow the Chiefs to cut Fisher, and save the team $11m desperately needed cap space dollars.

Now you almost certainly cannot cut Fisher because having a good, known quantity at LT is too important. And you're not cutting Schwartz for an unproven Niang.

So what in the hell do you do?

1. Well you can hope the extensions free up enough cash.
2. You can talk to Frank Clark ($25.8m), Pat Mahomes ($24.8m), or Chris Jones ($21.8m) about converting part of their salary to signing bonus.
3. You can make a handful of minor cuts like Okafor (saves you nearly $4m).

Doing a combo of 1 and 2 is really your only hope at opening up enough cap space to sign your draftees and make a play for some free agents to fill some of the holes left by your departing free agents. And those two solutions listed above involve kicking the can down the road.

If Niang had stayed on the roster and performed up to snuff in practice and perhaps in games, the team might feel comfortable enough cutting Fisher in 2021, which would do SO much work in bringing the team back to financially stable.

As it is, they're going to have some really tough choices ahead of themselves.

08-06-2020, 09:53 PM	Topic Starter
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch	Why Niang opting out really hurts us: 2021 So let's make a key assumption here. Let's assume that the 2021 salary cap stays flat from its 2020 level, of $198m. According to OverTheCap, the Chiefs cap space is $205m in 2021. Which means, we're starting at $7m over cap. Here's what the team looks like in 2021: https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/kansas-city-chiefs/ That's prior to draft picks (an additional $6m). And that's with a bevy of players hitting free agency that will need to be replaced: FB Anthony Sherman WR Sammy Watkins WR Demarcus Robinson TE Ricky Seals-Jones? C Austin Reiter DT Mike Pennel DE Tanoh Kpassgnon LB Damien Wilson CB Bashaud Breeland S Daniel Sorensen Ward will be looking for a payday, too, which we may or may not grant him. So your best shot for saving money and getting under the cap is by extending players who are currently making bank. Tyrann Matthieu (his 2021 cap number is $19.7m) Eric Fisher ($14.7m) Mitchell Schwartz ($10m) Travis Kelce ($9m) Now you can save a lot of money by extending all these guys, but you probably aren't interested in extending both of your tackles -- this is why you brought in Niang to begin with. And giving Niang a season to learn in 2020 would give the Chiefs a good idea if he could handle LT duties, which would allow the Chiefs to cut Fisher, and save the team $11m desperately needed cap space dollars. Now you almost certainly cannot cut Fisher because having a good, known quantity at LT is too important. And you're not cutting Schwartz for an unproven Niang. So what in the hell do you do? 1. Well you can hope the extensions free up enough cash. 2. You can talk to Frank Clark ($25.8m), Pat Mahomes ($24.8m), or Chris Jones ($21.8m) about converting part of their salary to signing bonus. 3. You can make a handful of minor cuts like Okafor (saves you nearly $4m). Doing a combo of 1 and 2 is really your only hope at opening up enough cap space to sign your draftees and make a play for some free agents to fill some of the holes left by your departing free agents. And those two solutions listed above involve kicking the can down the road. If Niang had stayed on the roster and performed up to snuff in practice and perhaps in games, the team might feel comfortable enough cutting Fisher in 2021, which would do SO much work in bringing the team back to financially stable. As it is, they're going to have some really tough choices ahead of themselves.
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