Kansas City Chiefs: Spencer Ware’s 2018 contract restructured
The Kansas City Chiefs hope that running back Spencer Ware can get back on the field in 2018. With a restructured deal, does he have a better shot?
The Kansas City Chiefs have a good problem to have when it comes to the running backs coming into training camp this week. Having talented depth that makes it hard to choose who makes the roster is what any team wants at every position. It will be interesting to see which running backs make the roster behind last year’s top rusher Kareem Hunt.
Running back Spencer Ware went down with a season-ending injury last preseason which gave Hunt the fulltime starting position straight out of the gate. While Hunt will clearly be the starting running back for the Chiefs in 2018, it’s still up in the air who will be the number two back. My favorite to win the job is Ware.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Chiefs have restructured Spencer Ware’s 2018 contract. It appears that $725 of Ware’s $1.45 million base salary has been converted into incentives. It’s not a longshot for Ware to meet those incentives if he can stay healthy and get on the field.
When head coach Andy Reid spoke on Sunday after arriving in St. Joseph for training camp, the only players that he mentioned would be limited at camp were wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas and cornerback Ashton Lampkin. Reid expects Ware to be ready to participate in training camp fully.
Source: Chiefs RB Spencer Ware has restructured his deal, with $725K of his $1.45M base salary being converted into incentives. Ware has a very real shot at hitting those incentives and making the full $1.45M.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 24, 2018
The restructuring of Ware’s deal makes me even more confident that he will make the final roster. Kansas City is spending very little at the running back position in 2018 with the highest paid player is running back Charcandrick West following the restructure. West’s contract has been one of the question marks on whether he will make the team with cheaper options being available.
If healthy, Ware is a starting caliber running back that could relieve Hunt or even play alongside him in some packages this season. Ware became a versatile back that could pound the ball while also catching out of the backfield in the start of the 2016 season where he was named the starter. If he can get back to that explosiveness being in a smaller role, it could mean some special things for Kansas City’s running backs group.
During training camp, Ware will have competition from West, and three players with the last name Williams. My favorite among the Williams is UDFA Darrell Williams out of LSU. Darrell spent time as a backup behind Leonard Fornette and Darius Guice while at LSU, but still showed to be a versatile and power running between the tackles back.
Kansas City will have some tough decisions to make when it comes time to cut down to the 53 man roster. If Spencer Ware is healthy and given his restructured contract, it should be an easy decision to keep him as the number two running back behind Kareem Hunt in 2018.