The NFL offseason is basically one big money heist, and teams are out here making major moves to keep their squads stacked. We’re talking record-breaking deals, sneaky cap space hacks, and teams either throwing bags at their stars or going full cheapskate mode. Everybody’s scheming, and honestly, the drama is top-tier.
The Chiefs just hit the ‘we made money‘ button, restructuring Patrick Mahomes’ and Chris Jones’ contracts to free up a massive $49.4 million in cap space for 2025. And they’re not just letting that cash sit pretty—Kansas City is already working to lock in free agents like LT Jaylon Moore and CB Kristian Fulton. Makes sense, ‘cause keeping Mahomes upright and happy is basically their whole game plan. And they did succeed on Jaylon Moore. Kansas City is bringing former 49ers’ offensive tackle Jaylon from the Bay Area. Reports suggested they have reached an agreement on a 2-year, $30M contract with $21.24M fully guaranteed at the time of signing.
But while the Chiefs are making financial moves, they just took two major Ls in free agency. First, DeAndre Hopkins dipped and joined the Ravens, leaving KC’s WR corps looking worse. They needed him to be that veteran anchor. And to make things worse, Justin Reid also bounced, signing a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Saints ($22.5M guaranteed). Losing a key defensive leader like him is a huge blow, and will the Chiefs’ secondary suffer due to this? Don’t know. This is straight-up bad news. Andy Reid and the front office better start cooking up some signings fast, or things could get dicey real quick.
Meanwhile, the NFL just said, ‘Here’s more money, don’t spend it all in one place.’ The 2025 salary cap jumped to a record-high $279.2 million per team—that’s a $23.8 million more than from last year. More money = bigger deals, wilder trades, and teams flexing their financial muscle to stay in the game.
And speaking of running up a check, the Cowboys just gave DT Osa Odighizuwa $80 million over four years, with $52 million guaranteed. That contract is fat, but Dallas made it work by finessing CeeDee Lamb’s deal, turning some of his salary into a signing bonus. Boom—just like that, $20.5 million in cap space magically appeared.
Over in Cleveland, the Browns weren’t about to let Myles Garrett test the market. They hit him with a four-year, $160 million extension, making him the highest-paid non-QB in the league. And with $123.5 million guaranteed, the man is set for life. Cleveland’s basically screaming, ‘We are NOT rebuilding, don’t even ask.’
Veteran players are also getting their bags, with Lavonte David running it back for his 14th season after signing a one-year, $10 million extension with the Bucs. The dude thought about retiring but then said, ‘Nah, one more.’ Tampa keeps their defensive leader, and David secures another season of cashing checks.
Not everybody’s splurging, though. The Eagles are over here cutting costs like a broke college student, shedding salary instead of making it rain. They’re letting go of some vets and betting big on their younger guys. It’s a bold strategy, but if it works, they’ll have a cheaper, fresher squad for the long haul.
At the end of the day, the offseason is just a giant chess match with dollar signs. Teams are making moves now that’ll define their 2025 season—whether it’s bagging superstars, creating cap space, or setting up their next big flex. With all these money moves happening, one thing’s for sure: this season is about to be straight chaos.
Chiefs on thin ice? Mahomes’ contract drama could cost KC big time
The Kansas City Chiefs might have dodged a bullet for now, but the NFL is still keeping a close eye on their books—and if they don’t clean things up soon, they could be looking at some serious punishment. We’re talking massive fines, lost draft picks, or even contract voids if they don’t get their salary cap situation under control. And guess who’s at the center of it all? Yep, Patrick Mahomes.
Patrick Mahomes’ mega-deal has been a financial rollercoaster for KC. Back in 2020, he locked in a 10-year, $450 million extension, and since then, the team has been tweaking and restructuring it to make room for other players. Just last year, they adjusted his contract again, freeing up $21.6 million in cap space. But now, his cap hit is set to skyrocket by almost $30 million, pushing the Chiefs dangerously close to the limit. With the team already $17 million over after franchise-tagging Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith, things are getting real tight.
The NFL raised the 2025 salary cap to $279.2 million, but the Chiefs aren’t in the clear yet. Right now, their active spending sits at $272.5 million, but as I mentioned before, they freed up $49 million but need to look at the numbers again. This could mean they’re barely staying afloat. And while Mahomes’ contract could be restructured again to ease the pressure, insiders don’t think KC wants to mess with it this time. Instead, they’re looking at other contracts, like Chris Jones’, which they already restructured last season to lower his cap hit.
The Chiefs aren’t the only team struggling to stay within the NFL’s financial guidelines. The New Orleans Saints are actually in the red, sitting $8.5 million over the cap. They’ve been scrambling to free up space, restructuring the contracts of Carl Granderson, Cesar Ruiz, and Khalen Saunders to create $13.5 million in relief. The Atlanta Falcons aren’t far behind, with a $5.7 million cap deficit forcing them to explore contract restructures and potential roster cuts. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins are about $3.5 million over the cap, making financial gymnastics a necessity if they want to remain competitive.
So, what happens if Kansas City doesn’t make the necessary corrections? The league could come down hard. Some reports suggest they could be slapped with a seven-figure fine, while others believe they might even lose draft picks or have certain contracts voided. Basically, the NFL isn’t playing around when it comes to cap violations, and the Chiefs need to tread very carefully to avoid disaster.
For now, Patrick Mahomes’ contract is kinda safe after the restructure, but the Chiefs aren’t out of the woods yet. They still have some number-crunching to do to stay compliant, and with the pressure mounting, all eyes are on KC to see how they handle this financial puzzle. If they don’t figure it out soon, they might end up paying for it in ways way worse than just money.
