Chiefs Free Up $43.5M in Cap Space

- Before the move, the Chiefs were more than $50 million over the projected salary cap, which was the worst situation in the entire league. Even after freeing up $43.56 million, they remain approximately $11 million over the cap. - This is the fourth consecutive year the Chiefs have restructured Patrick Mahomes's contract. The move was a conversion of $54.45 million of his 2026 salary into a signing bonus, lowering his immediate cap hit from about $78.2 million to $34.65 million. - The restructure adds nearly $11 million to Mahomes' salary cap hit in each of the following four seasons, pushing his 2027 cap number to a projected $85 million. - To become cap compliant by the March 11 deadline, the Chiefs will need to make more moves, with defensive tackle Chris Jones considered a logical next restructure candidate and offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor viewed as a potential cut. - Wyatt Teller, a three-time Pro Bowl and two-time second-team All-Pro guard, is not the only Cleveland Browns offensive lineman heading to the market; all five of their primary starters from 2025 are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. - The trade discussions around Minkah Fitzpatrick are part of a larger roster reset by a new regime in Miami, which has already released veterans like wide receiver Tyreek Hill and pass rusher Bradley Chubb. - The "bad news" for the Steelers is a report from CBS Sports' Aditi Kinkhabwala, who stated that sources close to Aaron Rodgers believe the chance he returns to play in 2026 is "minuscule" and he is likely to retire. - If Rodgers retires, the Steelers' quarterback room would be left with Will Howard, who did not play a single snap in 2025, and Mason Rudolph, which could force the franchise to consider a full rebuild.