As the Kansas City Chiefs look to the upcoming season, one major question looms over the franchise: What will happen with star tight end Travis Kelce? And why could Andy Reid‘s side get rid of the 35-year-old?
The Super Bowl-winning team has given Kelce until March 14 to decide if he wants to continue playing, which is when he would trigger a signing bonus in the region of $11m if he commits to the 2025/26 NFL season.
But an ESPN analyst has raised a surprising possibility-the Chiefs cutting Kelce outright. The star has had an illustrious career and is a likely future Hall of Famer. With his legacy secure and his high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift in the background, speculation about his next move has been mounting.
Yet with the start of the new NFL league year approaching on March 12, could they be the first to pull the trigger and bid farewell? According to Aaron Schatz, there’s a big financial incentive to move the ageing athlete on.
“This would be a very unpopular move,” Schatz told ESPN. “But Kelce’s contract is set up as an easy way for the Chiefs to gain cap space for 2025.
“According to Roster Management System, cutting Kelce would cost the Chiefs only $2.5 million in dead money while saving them over $17 million on the salary cap.
“That’s important with the Chiefs currently having negative effective cap space (i.e. the cap space that they would have after signing at least 51 players and a projected rookie class).”
Could the Chiefs actually do it?
The financial benefits of cutting Kelce are undeniable. The Chiefs are currently in a challenging cap situation, and clearing $17 million in space would provide valuable flexibility to strengthen their roster.
However, parting ways with a franchise legend like Kelce would be a tough pill to swallow for both the team and its fanbase.
Realistically, the Chiefs are unlikely to cut Kelce unless it’s part of a mutual decision. If he opts for retirement, the franchise might release him as a cap-saving move.
But if Kelce chooses to play, it’s difficult to imagine Kansas City willingly moving on from one of Patrick Mahomes’ most trusted targets.
All eyes will be on Kelce in the coming weeks and his decision will not only shape the future of his own career but could also have major implications for the Chiefs’ roster and next NFL season.
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