Chiefs May Consider Cutting Travis Kelce to Free Up Salary Cap Space.
The Kansas City Chiefs approached Super Bowl LIX with the opportunity to achieve a historic milestone by becoming the first team to secure three consecutive Super Bowl titles. However, as the final whistle blew—indeed, well before that moment—it was the Philadelphia Eagles who were celebrating their championship victory with a commanding score of 40-22.
In the aftermath, the Chiefs face numerous questions this offseason, with perhaps the most pressing being the future of one of the franchise's most beloved players: Travis Kelce. The 35-year-old tight end has been a cornerstone of the team since 2013, holding records for the most receptions (1,004) and receiving yards (12,151) in Chiefs history. He has also been selected for 10 consecutive Pro Bowls and has earned eight All-Pro honors throughout his career.
Additionally, Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift, widely regarded as one of the world's biggest superstars, has attracted a significant influx of new fans to both the Chiefs and the NFL.
Given the team's substantial payroll and the impending contracts of several high-profile players, there is a possibility that the Chiefs may consider releasing Kelce to alleviate financial pressures.
RELATED: Travis Kelce's Net Worth: How the NFL Star Built $90 Million.
ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz has suggested that this could be a prudent course of action, noting in his bold offseason predictions for each NFL team that parting ways with Kelce "would be a very unpopular move" but could save the team over $17 million against the salary cap. Furthermore, the Chiefs would incur only $2.5 million in dead money, a relatively modest figure in the context of NFL contracts.
Despite his notable achievements in his career, Kelce is set to turn 36 years old during the upcoming NFL season. It is uncommon for tight ends to continue playing into their late 30s, and Kelce's performance declined last year. He recorded his lowest receiving yards since his rookie season, in which he participated in only one game, scored merely three touchdowns, and ranked 38th out of 49 qualifying tight ends in defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA).
From a strictly performance-based standpoint, releasing Kelce appears to be a logical decision. However, such a move could alienate both long-time supporters and newer fans attracted by Swift. It may be prudent to explore alternative cost-saving strategies, retain Kelce, and allow him to conclude his career with the Chiefs. This conclusion could come sooner than anticipated, especially considering the current trajectory of his podcast with his brother Jason.
