3 Chiefs Veterans Who Could Be Cap Casualty Cuts This Offseason

As the Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs aren't likely to want to make too many dramatic moves this offseason.

No team can afford to be complacent, though, and they're going to have to spend big if they want to re-sign top free agent Chris Jones. Ranking only 27th in the NFL in cap space, that will likely mean shedding some excess salary this offseason.

With that in mind, here are three veterans the Chiefs could cut as cap casualties.

1. Sammy Watkins, WR

Sammy Watkins catches a pass against the Patriots. / David Eulitt/Getty Images

If Sammy Watkins wants to restructure, he might be worth keeping around. But there is no way he warrants the team's second-highest cap hit in 2020 ($21 million), and releasing him would free up about $14 million in space. He had a couple big games in the postseason, and one to start the year, but following his Week 1 explosion he averaged just 3.3 receptions and 36.5 yards per game for the remainder of the regular season. With Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson both showing flashes as complements for Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs aren't going to want to pay Watkins like he's one of their best players.

2. Anthony Hitchens, LB

Anthony Hitchens during the AFC Championship game against the Titans. / Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Anthony Hitchens has started 30 regular season games in his two seasons with the Chiefs, but he really struggled in 2019. Pro Football Focus graded him out as the worst Chiefs linebacker to play at least 200 snaps last year. Hitchens would have to be a post-June 1st cut to avoid having essentially his entire salary still count against the cap this offseason, but at that point releasing him would free up over $8 million in cap space.

3. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, G

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif before a snap against the Titans. / Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

For as good as the Chiefs' offense is, their offensive line hasn't been anything to write home about, and there are a few potential cap casualties in that group. Releasing Laurent Duvernay-Tardif would free up almost $5 million now, or closer to $7 million after June 1st, with both scenarios being viable approaches. Duvernay-Tardif has been plagued by injures for years, having started no more than 14 games in any of the last five seasons, with a combined 18 missed games over the last three years.

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Jason Schandl is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Jason Schandl also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username Jaymun. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.