The Kansas City Chiefs look set to part ways with two-time Super Bowl winner Tershawn Wharton due to the ongoing salary cap issue plaguing the team.

The defensive tackle, 26, is set to enter free agency in just a couple of months, and the Chiefs are unlikely to be able to do anything to get him to stay. Wharton recorded 8.5 sacks last season in a breakout year for him, and his importance to the Chiefs’ defense can’t be overstated.

Andy Reid will likely want to keep him next season in order to protect his roster strength and gear up for a fourth run at the Super Bowl in as many years, and if he hits free agency he’ll be a hot target for a number of teams looking to strengthen on defense.

However, regardless of how Reid feels about him, it’s likely the Chiefs won’t be able to afford him. Currently, Kansas City is $2 million over the salary cap, and in desperate need of some changes in order to restructure the team.

It’s clear the Chiefs are working to fix the salary cap issues they carried over from last season. Kansas City ended last season a staggering $16.9 million over the salary cap, and quickly set about making changes.

Wednesday night saw the team trade All-Pro left guard Joe Thunk to the Chicago Bears for menial compensation – a fourth-round draft pick in next year’s NFL Draft.

That move saved the Chiefs significantly, saving them Thuney’s 2025 salary of $15.5 million – not to mention a $500,000 workout bonus. However, they’ll carry over $11 million in dead money, stemming from $3.4 million in a signing bonus proration and $7.6 million in restructure proration.

Now, the Chiefs sit at $2 million over the salary cap, meaning while things are looking bleak at Arrowhead, they aren’t in as dire conditions as before Wednesday’s trade. The Chiefs will have a salary cap of $960,000 from McKade Mettauer’s contract.

The Chiefs have just under two weeks to work things out and get under the cap before the new league year officially begins. Kansas City has until the afternoon of March 12 to get itself under the cap and work out some more trades.