The Kansas City Chiefs are staring down a financial fourth-and-long as free agency rapidly approaches.
The legal tampering period kicks off on March 10, giving teams a two-day window to negotiate with outside free agents before March 12, when signings can officially be inked. The problem is that the Chiefs are $3.271 million over the salary cap, according to Over the Cap. That means some maneuvering is in order.
Kansas City has no choice but to tighten the financial playbook, making critical decisions about cap casualties, restructures, and roster upgrades.
With free agency looming, here are four bold predictions for how the Chiefs will free up space, retain key players, and bring in fresh talent.
1. Chiefs Restructure Patrick Mahomes' Contract
Patrick Mahomes is worth every penny, but his $66.258 million cap hit—nearly 25 percent of the 2025 salary cap—is a financial mountain the Chiefs need to climb.
The solution, for now, is a simple restructure that converts portions of his salary into a signing bonus, spreading out the cap hit over multiple seasons. This move doesn’t require Mahomes' approval, though it's typically a conversation teams have with their stars.
By restructuring, the Chiefs can free up $15.2 million in cap space—an essential step in their offseason game plan.
Kansas City needs every dollar it can save to retain key free agents, pursue external upgrades, sign its 2025 draft class, and create an emergency piggy bank. And while Mahomes’ contract will always be a financial puzzle, a simple restructure helps keep the Chiefs in championship contention while maintaining roster flexibility.