The Kansas City Chiefs are shuffling cash like a Vegas dealer, prepping for free agency’s chaos. The legal tampering window opens March 10, with official signings starting March 12, and Kansas City faces a mountain of work.
They’re currently $2.9 million over the 2025 NFL salary cap, per Over the Cap—a site name that’s almost too on-the-nose. That figure doesn’t even cover draft picks, outside free agents, or roster tweaks GM Brett Veach craves to keep this dynasty humming.
The Chiefs jump-started their spree by franchise-tagging right guard Trey Smith at $23 million for 2025—a placeholder move to lock in their stud lineman while they hash out a long-term deal.
Then came a shocker: they traded All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears for a 2026 fourth-round pick. Thuney’s still got juice, but at 32, his best years are probably behind him. And the $16 million cap savings screams motive.
That leaves us all wondering who could be next on the Chiefs’ chopping block…
1. Joshua Williams, CB
The Chiefs roll into the offseason with cornerback depth that looks solid on paper. Four guys—Trent McDuffie, Chamarri Conner, Jaylen Watson, and Joshua Williams—logged over 400 defensive snaps in 2024.
Williams trails the pack with 411 snaps, and his 64.3 PFF grade—62nd out of 116 qualifying corners—won’t win him any medals.
Kansas City could trim $3.4 million by waiving him, a tidy sum for a squad clawing to free up funds.
Veach loves roster gymnastics—cutting Williams could fuel a bigger swing elsewhere, like a wideout for Mahomes. The Chiefs’ secondary held up last year, but depth’s only golden ‘til it’s not.
Williams isn’t a cap-killer at $3.5 million, yet that savings could tip the scales for a team chasing another ring. He’s no bust, just a guy who might not fit the 2025 puzzle.
