Patrick restructures deal to give Chiefs cap relief
Time for new roles & rotation as Knicks get healthy again
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have restructured quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ contract, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday, giving the Super Bowl champions some much-needed salary cap space.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the financial details were not public.
By restructuring the contract, which would have counted more than $58 million against the cap for the upcoming season, the Chiefs created more than $21 million to use elsewhere. That could include a much-publicized pursuit of help at wide receiver, their need for a new left tackle to protect Mahomes’ blind side, or in re-signing their own free agents.
Mahomes also adjusted his 10-year, $450 million contract in 2021 to help the Chiefs with their financial situation.
The Chiefs already signed All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones to a five-year, $158.75 million contract, which included $95 million guaranteed over the first three years. But that deal was structured so that it only cost $7.35 million against the cap this year.
Backup linebacker Drue Tranquill also signed a threeyear, $19 million deal to return before Wednesday’s official start to free agency, and defensive tackle Mike Pennel returned to the Chiefs on a one-year deal after playing well in their Super Bowl win.
The creation of some additional salary cap space also could mean that L’Jarius Sneed, who quietly emerged as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks last season, could remain in Kansas City. The Chiefs used the franchise tag on him, which would equate to a one-year, $19.8 million deal, but many expected them to ultimately trade Sneed for draft compensation and salary cap relief.
Now, the Chiefs could keep him at the tag number or use their newfound wiggle room to sign him to a longterm deal.
JIMMY G. RELEASED
The Las Vegas Raiders kicked off the start of the new league year by releasing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and receiver Hunter Renfrow to give the new regime more room to operate under the salary cap.
The Raiders also released backup quarterback Brian Hoyer and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery on Wednesday, just minutes after the start of the 2024 league year.
The moves create significant salary cap space for the Raiders to use this offseason as general manager Tom Telesco and coach Antonio Pierce look to build the team into a contender.
These decisions had been widely expected, as the Raiders benched Garoppolo midway through last season after Pierce took over for fired coach Josh McDaniels.
The Raiders had signed Garoppolo to a three-year, $72.75 million contract last offseason to take over as quarterback from recently released Derek Carr, but the move backfired almost from the start.
Garoppolo’s contract had to be reworked when he failed a physical and needed surgery on his previously injured foot.
Garoppolo made six starts for Las Vegas, throwing nine interceptions and only seven TDs before getting benched following the coaching change.
He then got suspended in February for the the first two games of next season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, allowing the Raiders to void the $11.25 million guaranteed salary Garoppolo was supposed to be owed in 2024.
LONGEST-TENURED DOLPHIN CUT LOOSE
The Miami Dolphins released cornerback Xavien Howard on Wednesday, parting with their longest-tenured player.
Howard had 331 tackles and 95 passes deflected in eight seasons with the Dolphins, who selected him at No. 38 in the 2016 NFL draft.
Minutes cuts are coming, and roles are set to be redefined — especially if Tom Thibodeau isn’t planning to expand his regular rotation.
Thibodeau traditionally whittles his 15man roster to just a nine-man lineup by the end of the regular season into the playoffs.
The Knicks, however, have 13 players who can leave an imprint on a game if you include backup guard and late-season pickup Shake Milton.
Which means more than one capable player will be on the outside looking into a rotation attempting to one-up its second-round playoff appearance last season. It’s a good problem to have.
After all, the Knicks had the second-worst scoring bench in all of basketball after trading RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors for OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa on Dec. 31.
They addressed those second-unit struggles by trading for Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks at the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
And while legitimate depth is no longer an issue, managing minutes and editing a playoff-bound rotation is on the table for a team expecting its horses to return to the floor.
The first workhorse, OG Anunoby, returned in Tuesday’s win over the 76ers after missing more than a month following surgery on his right, shooting elbow.
Both Anunoby and Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder) left the rotation on Jan. 27. As a result, Thibodeau thrust both Achiuwa and Josh Hart into the starting lineup.
Hart averaged a league-leading 40.8 minutes per game from the moment Anunoby left the rotation to his injury return on Tuesday.
“Our savior is back,” said Hart. “Ain’t expecting a 40 (minute workload) today. So we gonna see (Anunoby) get 40. Ain’t letting him get out of the game.”
Here’s how it shakes out on paper:
● Isaiah Hartenstein replaced Mitchell Robinson in the starting lineup after Robinson left the rotation due to a stress fracture in his left ankle on Dec. 8. Thibodeau gave a status update on Robinson on Tuesday: “He’s on the court, he can run, jump, no contact yet,” he said. “But that should be coming soon.”
● Randle’s return would move Hart back to the bench, an idea Hart welcomed on Tuesday: “S–t, I’m good with it, man. Really, I’m at the point where I really don’t care,” he said. “I just want to win. Whether I play 40 or I play 25, I’m good.” It would also mean fewer minutes for Achiuwa — provided Randle can play his normal minutes workload — because Thibodeau has enjoyed the versatility Achiuwa brings being able to play both the four and five.
● Anunoby’s return doesn’t just mean fewer minutes for Hart, it also could mean fewer opportunities for Bogdanovic, who plays the three and small-ball four. Thibodeau could also use Bogdanovic as a backup two.
● To sum up, the Knicks could be playing Anunoby, Randle and Jalen Brunson 32 to 35 minutes each. When Robinson returns, the Knicks will have four centers who can each make an impact on the roster. Donte DiVincenzo is a likely lock to retain his status as the starting two and play big minutes for the rest of the season.
“It’s been an unusual season in terms of injuries,” said Thibodeau. “Mitch going out first. Your front line is out. Then losing Isaiah, now you lose your backup. So you’re deep in that position. I think Precious has come in and given us good minutes . ... A lot of guys have stepped in and played really well. What Josh has done, what Donte’s done. Their rolls were expanded and they responded well to that. And then Jalen’s been Jalen all throughout.”