KANSAS CITY, MO – AUGUST 10: Breeland Speaks #57 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes towards O’Shea Dugas #70 of the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium on August 10, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs are going to be forced to make some tough moves following the 2020 season.
The Kansas City Chiefs‘ plan went to perfection last season. The team was able to spend money on elite talent outside the quarterback position. Patrick Mahomes was still on his rookie deal and that meant financial flexibility.
That is obviously set to change quick after Mahomes signed his 10-year, $450 million extension. His cap hit is already set to jump from $5.3 million in 2020 to $24.8 million in 2021. Factor in Frank Clark’s deal, Tyrann Mathieu’s money, and a potential extension for Chris Jones and money is going to be tight.
The honeymoon period will soon be over for the Chiefs and the true reality of the future of the team will set in after the 2020 season. Let’s look at three players who may need to be let go just to stay under the cap in 2021.
3
Breeland Speaks
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Breeland Speaks is a 2018 second-round draft pick by the Chiefs who did not appear in a single game during the 2019 season due to suspension and injury.
Speaks missed out on the excitement of the season and is now facing a crucial season in 2020 to prove himself. However, it may be too late for him in Kansas City.
The Chiefs can release Speaks before the 2021 season and save $1.3 million. This is not a monumental move for the Chiefs, but every dollar counts when trying to have the most efficient roster and remain under the salary cap.
It is also the final year of Speaks’ deal and cutting him for the savings is the obvious move if the team has no intention of signing him to an extension. The way his career has gone to this point seems to take away any confidence in an extension even being considered.