KC Chiefs: Mike DeVito Re-structures Deal To Stay In KC

KC Chiefs defensive end Mike DeVito restructured his contract Monday to reduce his $5.4 million 2015 cap number to $2.9 million, according to NBC Sports Talk.

Applying some advanced math skills, and we can determine that the Kansas City Chiefs will save $2.5 million in cap room with the deal.

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The soon-to-be 31-year-old Mike DeVito reduced his $3.75 million base salary with a $250,000 workout bonus to a guaranteed salary of $870,000 with a $30,000 workout bonus. DeVito will earn a $300,000 bonus for every regular season game he remains on the 53-man roster, which adds $4.8 million in potential value to the contract.

The $300,000 per game roster bonus do not count as “likely to be earned” under the current collective bargaining agreement, because DeVito only played in one game last season.

Mike DeVito had long been speculated to be a candidate for a re-structure, or an outright cut this offseason. Yet, when the KC Chiefs instead cut defensive end Vance Walker, I began to suspect that Mike DeVito would remain on the 2015 roster.

DeVito is a powerful run stopper. The Kansas City Chiefs run defense suffered when both DeVito and inside linebacker Derrick Johnson suffered Achilles injuries in the 2014 opening game against the Tennessee Titans. The KC Chiefs run defense collapsed from 22nd in the NFL in 2013, to 28th in 2014.

Mike DeVito’s return should help the KC Chiefs address the biggest weakness in what was otherwise a strong defensive team last season. The 2014 Chiefs ranked 2nd in points allowed, 7th in yards allowed, and 2nd in passing yards allowed.

The 6’3″ 298 pound DeVito is a good two-down lineman that should help the team’s defensive-end rotation along with Jaye Howard and Allen Bailey.

DeVito came to Kansas City as a free-agent from the New York Jets before the 2013 season, signing a three-year, $12.6 million deal. He was brought to the KC Chiefs by defensive coordinator Bob Sutton, who spent years coaching DeVito as a member of the Jets’ defensive staff.

DeVito came into the NFL the hard way as an undrafted free agent from Maine, who stuck with the Jets in 2007. He worked his way into the starting lineup by 2010, and signed with the KC Chiefs after six years in New York. While listed as a defensive tackle in New York, he has played as a defensive end in Kansas City.

KC Chiefs general manager John Dorsey continues to juggle his salary cap to meet the Tuesday deadline when the league year starts.

Next: Ten Free Agents The KC Chiefs Should Avoid

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