Aug 22, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches play against the Chicago Bears during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images / Denny Medley-Imagn Images
The Chiefs pulled off a major trade this week by acquiring WR DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans but a surprise salary cap move on Friday suggests another big move could be coming soon.
Kansas City reportedly restructured OT Jawaan Taylor’s contract, converting salary into a signing bonus to create $5.3 million in cap space. This is a common tactic from the organization and we’ve seen players like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce convert their salaries in previous years to accomplish the same goal.
Considering the recent injury to Jaylen Watson and the numerous players missing on offense, this cap flexibility gives Brett Veach a lot of options ahead of the November 5 deadline.
Chiefs Create Cap Space by Converting Jawaan Taylor’s Salary to Signing Bonus
With cap space tight after the DeAndre Hopkins trade, the Chiefs restructured the contract of OT Jawaan Taylor by converting salary into a signing bonus, creating $5.3M in 2024 room.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 25, 2024
While some thought that Hopkins’ addition was the final piece to Kansas City’s puzzle, there are still holes on the roster that need to be addressed. Even with Hopkins, the wide receiver room lacks back-end talent, while the secondary and defensive interior are thin.
Should another starter suffer an injury, the Chiefs could be in trouble. Thus, it’s wise for Veach to explore every avenue for a potential trade. Kansas City has the rarest of chances to become the first organization to ever win three straight Super Bowls and Veach must go all-in.
Panthers WR Diontae Johnson could be a target, as could multiple cornerbacks around the league. With over $5 million in available space, there are many quality players who could fit on the Chiefs’ roster.
We don’t yet know who the front office is looking at but we do know this move gives them the freedom to remain active on the market.
