To say the Kansas City Chiefs are in a tough financial spot wouldn't even tell half the story. According to OverTheCap, Andy Reid's team is nearly $55 million over the salary cap, the worst mark in the entire league.
Given the undesirable financial situation, Chiefs fans are wondering if the team's cap crunch will impact any chances of Travis Kelce returning for the 2026 season. Kelce's potential retirement has been heavily speculated since the regular season ended, and some out there in the Kingdom are worried that K.C. won't have enough money to facilitate a final run.
Despite mounting fears, Chiefs fans might not have much to worry about if No. 87 intends to play another season. In fact, Kelce's next contract may not break the bank.
Travis Kelce's Return Might Not Cost the Chiefs Much
If Kelce does return for the 2026 season, early projections paint a promising picture. According to Spotrac, Kelce's projected market value currently sits at $10.8 million. That's significantly lower than the $19.5 million cap hit he carried during the 2025 campaign.
It's also a bargain for someone who can still be a top-five tight end under the right circumstances, but it makes perfect sense for Kelce, given his age and his diminished production last season.
A similar price would've sounded crazy just a couple of years ago, but Father Time spares no victims, not even Kelce. Also, we're talking about someone with over $111.1 million in career earnings, not even counting investments, endorsements, and business endeavors. Money might not be a motivating factor for another season.
With that in mind, it wouldn't be out of the question to ask Kelce to take a pay cut. It's hard to imagine he wouldn't do right by the franchise that stuck with him through thick and thin. If taking a discount will give the Chiefs a better shot of winning another Super Bowl as a swan song, it's hard to imagine that he wouldn't be willing.
Kelce is coming off a down season by his standards. Then again, a down season for a future first-ballot Hall of Famer would be a career year for most tight ends. He finished the campaign with 76 receptions on 108 targets for 851 yards and five touchdowns. Even if he's another year older, he can likely replicate that performance as long as Patrick Mahomes is throwing him the ball.
The Chiefs will need to do plenty of financial juggling to get under the salary cap. They can restructure multiple players' deals and let go of bloated contracts to give Veach as much cap space to work with in the coming months.
Everybody will have to make sacrifices, but fortunately for the Chiefs, Travis Kelce is a team player.