The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chiefs restructure Mahomes’ deal
Move creates $21M to sign other players or keep their own.
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 three-year, $19 million deal to return before Wednesday’s start to free agency.
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.
BILLS: Buffalo began replenishing its receiver depth by agreeing to sign free agent Mack Hollins, a person with direct knowledge of discussions told The Associated Press. Hollins has seven seasons of NFL experience, with his most productive year coming in 2021 when he had 57 catches for 690 yards and four touchdowns with the Las Vegas Raiders. Hollins, 30, spent last season in Atlanta, where he had 18 catches for 251 yards for the run-focused Falcons.
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds, Hollins has the potential to provide quarterback Josh Allen a big-bodied target to play alongside Stefon Diggs and Khalil Shakir. And his addition offsets the loss of starter Gabe Davis, an unrestricted free agent who agreed to sign with Jacksonville.
49ERS: San Francisco added more help to its defensive line, agreeing to acquire DT Maliek Collins in a trade from Houston for a seventh-round draft pick. Collins is the latest addition to the 49ers’ defensive line after San Francisco previously agreed to deals with free agent defensive ends Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos, and DT Jordan Elliott, according to several sources speaking on condition of anonymity.
CHARGERS: Los Angeles released wide receiver Mike Williams, a move that will free up $20 million in salary cap space. Williams, the seventh overall pick by the Chargers in the 2017 draft, was going into the final year of a 2022 contract extension worth $60 million that included $40 million guaranteed.
He played in only three games last season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee during a Sept. 24 game at Minnesota.
COMMANDERS: Washington agreed to a two-year contract with safety and 2022 All-Pro special teams player Jeremy Reaves, according to a person familiar with the deal.
JETS: New York is acquiring offensive tackle Morgan Moses from the Ravens in a trade that includes draft picks for both teams, a person familiar with the deal said. The Jets also will receive the Ravens’ fourthround pick and New York will send its fourth-rounder and a sixth-rounder to Baltimore.
COWBOYS: Prosper, Texas, police are investigating claims that quarterback Dak Prescott says he is being extorted, an official confirmed to The Dallas Morning News. Prescott filed a lawsuit Monday in Collin County accusing a Fort Worth woman of making a false sexual assault allegation in an attempt to extort $100 million from him. Prescott, who denied the allegations, lives in Prosper.
COWBOYS: A defamation lawsuit filed by a woman who says Jerry Jones is her biological father, alleging the Dallas owner and his associates worked to portray her in the public as an “extortionist,” was dismissed by a federal judge Wednesday. The lawsuit by Alexandra Davis, 27, sought a multimillion-dollar payout.
RAIDERS: Las Vegas released WR Hunter Renfrow, less than two years after signing him to a lucrative contract extension.