The Chiefs won’t be able to sign any players until they clear the $15 million

THE Kansas City Chiefs are facing a tough salary cap situation this offseason.

After facing a crushing defeat in the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chiefs are now at risk of breaking up the dynasty.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid signals a play.
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The Kansas City Chiefs are in a desperate salary cap situationCredit: Getty

Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs holding a football.
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The Chiefs are $15.9 million over the 2025 salary capCredit: Getty
The Chiefs had some glaring holes exposed during their Super Bowl loss, but they currently don’t have the money to address those holes.

Kansas City are 30th out of the 32 NFL teams in cap space, currently sitting at $15.9 million over the cap.

This is because the team used the franchise tag on offensive lineman Trey Smith.

The franchise tag guarantees Smith $23 million for the 2025 season, making him the fifth highest paid player on the team.

Before signing him to the contract the Chiefs were $8 million under the cap.

The Chiefs are in a dire situation now, as they have just eight days to get their financials in order.

The 2025 league year starts at 4 pm ET on March 12, and Kansas City could face massive penalties if they don’t get under the cap set for the year.

This year, NFL teams have to stay under $279.2 million.

If a team is not under that cap by the deadline they can face some serious ramifications.

That includes fines for more than $5 million for each violation of the salary cap.

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The NFL can take draft picks away from teams as another punishment if they don’t comply with the salary cap.

Teams can also have contracts with players forcibly voided by the NFL to get them back under the salary cap.

Lastly, the NFL can place a signing ban on a violating team until they get under the cap.

The Chiefs have a lot of work to do if they don’t want to face any of these punishments from the NFL.

Most teams work around the salary cap by converting players’ salaries into bonuses.

NFL important dates 2025 season

March 12 – Free Agency begins

April 24-26 – NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin

September 4 – 2025 season opener (TBC vs Eagles)

November 27 – Thanksgiving Day triple header

January 4, 2026 – End of regular-season

February 8, 2026 – Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California

Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, and Jawaan Taylor make up 46 percent of the Chiefs’ salary cap spending.

Mahomes has a $66 million cap hit, Jones has a $35 million cap hit, and Taylor has a $27 million cap hit. Chunks of each of their salaries could be converted to bonuses to get back underneath the cap.

While the Chiefs are in a dire situation, they actually aren’t the worst in the league. There are two teams that are further over the cap than Kansas City.

The Cleveland Browns are currently $24 million over the cap, but they are expected to trade away Myles Garrett and his $20 million cap hit to help alleviate that.

The New Orleans Saints are a whopping $47 million over the cap, and there is no telling how they are going to recuperate that money before the league year starts in eight days.