3 free agents Chiefs are most at risk of losing
By John Buhler
The Kansas City Chiefs could be losing a few marquee players in 2022 NFL free agency.
While the Kansas City Chiefs are not in a terrible spot with the salary cap, they may not have enough free space to afford to bring back all of their star plays hitting NFL free agency.
Kansas City finds itself with roughly $11.5 million in available cap space for 2022. That number is slightly below league average, but general manager Brett Veach is elite at what he does, so he could always free up more. However, the Chiefs are not in a position to go on a massive shopping spree in free agency. They must be calculated with every single transaction to not grossly overpay.
Here are three players the Chiefs are at the risk of losing in free agency this offseason.
Kansas City Chiefs: 3 free agents they could lose this offseason
Tyrann Mathieu. 124. Scouting Report. Kansas City Chiefs. Pick Analysis. S. 3. player
The Chiefs would love to have Tyrann Mathieu back, but at what price?
In a perfect world, Tyrann Mathieu would close out his potential Pro Football Hall of Fame career in a Kansas City uniform. He has been a Pro Bowler twice since coming over from the Houston Texans, earning First-Team All-Pro honors in 2019 and 2020. However, he will be turning 30 years old in May and plays a position that most teams historically do no overpay for players at in safety.
Mathieu made over $14 million on the final year of his Chiefs deal last season. Was he worth every penny of that $42 million? Absolutely, but the Chiefs are not in position to pay him top-dollar right now heading into his early 30s, especially when offensive tackle Orlando Brown will be hitting free agency for the first time. It will take some serious financial gymnastics for the Chiefs to keep both.
It might serve the Chiefs to use the franchise tag on a marquee player they traded for in Brown. Would it be an overpay? Yes, but offensive tackles are far more valuable on the balance sheet than a safety. Again, if any safety in the league is worth top-dollar these days, it would have to be Mathieu. He may want to stay, but other teams are in position to outbid for his football services.
Veach will probably find a way to bring back both Brown and Mathieu, but at what cost will it be?