There’s no sugarcoating it; the Kansas City Chiefs will have to make difficult cut decisions in 2026, considering the news that they must clear over $58 million in cap space before the start of the new league year in March.

KC general manager Brett Veach will certainly free up some of that money by restructuring long-term contracts, but he may have to move on from one or two big-name veterans, too. And three players stand out as obvious cut candidates based on the numbers.

The first is right tackle Jawaan Taylor.

Jawaan Taylor Has Been Chiefs’ Most Rumored Cut Candidate Heading Into 2026

It’s no secret that Kansas City could cut Taylor before the start of free agency and the new league year. Perhaps Taylor will elect to take some sort of pay cut to remain with the Chiefs, but if not, the potential savings are just too much for Veach to pass up.

The Chiefs can save $20 million by releasing Taylor at any time, according to Over the Cap, and the dead cap hit would be manageable at approximately $7.392 million. They could also save $20 million by trading him, if they’re able to find a suitor that will take on the right tackle’s contract.

Taylor has been a solid starter for KC, but he’s had a major penalty issue since joining the franchise. And overall, he just has not lived up to the $80 million deal that the Chiefs handed him in free agency.

With Josh Simmons winning the left tackle job as a rookie, veteran signing Jaylon Moore on the roster as a potential right tackle replacement, and Esa Pole emerging as a possible swing tackle of the future, it’s really hard to believe that Kansas City won’t pull the cord on the Taylor contract this offseason.

Chiefs Could Save Nearly $9 Million by Releasing Staff Favorite Defensive End Mike Danna

Veteran defensive end Mike Danna (pictured in the cover image) is certainly not a lock to get cut, but his contract makes him a clear candidate for a surprise pre-free agency release.

Danna is a favorite of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, and he does a lot more than what shows up on the stat sheet. Still, the front office could save nearly $9 million by moving on from the stalwart of this KC defense (compared to just $2.167 million in dead cap), and it’s an option that Veach will have to at least consider.

Over the Cap projects exactly $8.94 million in cap savings if the Chiefs cut or trade Danna at any point this offseason. That’s a helpful amount, as Kansas City tries to get its roster under the cap limit ahead of free agency.

It feels more likely that the Chiefs try and work something out with Danna, where he restructures his deal or takes a pay cut, but it is worth noting that he’s coming off a very lackluster season.

Danna was never a huge sack specialist, but he only recorded 1.0 sack in 2025, which is a career-worst campaign in that area. The former fifth-round draft pick also registered just 3 tackles for a loss despite appearing in 15 games.

Linebacker Drue Tranquill Would Make for a Simple Chiefs Cut Amid Cap News

The final cut candidate that makes sense — based on cap savings versus dead cap figures — is veteran linebacker Drue Tranquill.

The Chiefs extended Tranquill in 2024 after he fit Spagnuolo’s defense like a glove in 2023, but at this point, he’s a luxury that KC can no longer afford.

Veach and Spagnuolo went all-in on re-signing middle linebacker Nick Bolton last offseason, and that leaves very little financial room for someone like Tranquill.

The versatile linebacker is a quality player and a great locker room leader, but he turns 31 years old in August, and this is a position where the Chiefs should look to get younger.

According to Over the Cap, Kansas City can save $6 million by releasing Tranquill before free agency. On the flip side, they’d only take on a minor dead cap hit of $1.5 million, making this somewhat of a no-brainer move.

Add all three of these cuts up, and the Chiefs could save just under $35 million in cap space. Pair them with a few contract restructures, and KC is free of their current $58 million-plus of debt.