Travis Kelce’s deal is seen as very team friendly within league
The Chiefs have a lot of big stars to pay on the current roster. Fortunately for fans in Kansas City, it looks like Travis Kelce took a discount.
Travis Kelce is one of the best tight ends in football and the Chiefs gave him a big new extension as a result. That doesn’t mean Kansas City paid top-dollar for their star pass catcher.
That might seem like an odd statement considering the reality that Kelce added $57 million in new money when he signed the recent extension. It makes more sense when considering the reality that Kelce isn’t making any extra money for the 2020 season.
According to Matt Verederame in his most recent edition of Stacking the Box, observers around the NFL believe Kelce took far less than his worth in his recent extension. The player has a well-earned reputation of being a team-first guy on the field, but it’s now clear that philosophy extends to him off the field as well.
Kelce’s willingness to accept an under-market contract will make it much easier for the Chiefs to retain some other stars on the roster. Tyrann Mathieu is likely going to be the next player to ascend to the top of the franchise’s shopping list. His ability to make plays at the line of scrimmage and in deep coverage is vital to the Chiefs’ defensive success. In some ways, he may be just as important to that unit as Mahomes is to the explosive Kansas City offense.
The former LSU star may see his market somewhat depressed by the position he plays, but he’ll certainly be looking for a significant raise over the $11.5 million he’s set to make in 2020. At 28, it may be his last opportunity to really cash in with a lucrative, long-term deal. Expect the Chiefs to be the team that gives him the payday he’s looking for before he has an opportunity to test free agency.
Next. Patrick Mahomes is super excited about Travis Kelce's extension. dark
Whenever the Mathieu deal comes in, Chiefs fans need to give a healthy nod to Kelce for making it possible. He doesn’t just catch touchdowns or Kansas City on the field. He’s also set to help stop the opposition from scoring by keeping the Honey Badger in the fold.