Chiefs Salary Cap Analysis - Tight End

Taking a look at the Chiefs Salary Cap costs for the TE position in 2024

Over the next month, I’ll review the Chiefs’ salary cap for each roster position. The tight end position is a much clearer picture than the wide receiver position. Travis Kelce is the obvious and the only TE making significant money in 2024.

Travis Kelce

I'm still slightly surprised when I reflect on the Chiefs updating Kelce’s deal. I’m not saying he hasn’t been underpaid and hasn’t earned it; he was and has earned it. But in the NFL today, these types of deals aren’t typical. The Chiefs gave Kelce a raise and guaranteed his entire salary for 2024 when he is 35 years old.

Kelce's base salary is $5.75 million in 2024 and $4.5 million in 2025. He also has roster bonuses of $11 million and $12.5 million, respectively. Add a $250K workout bonus each year and his prorated signing bonus of $2.552 million per year, and we will reach his full cap hits for 2024 and 2025. For 2024, his cap number is $19.552 million; for 2025, it will be $19.802 million. In other words, Kelce’s cap hit for 2024 is around $500K more than the entire cost of the Chiefs WR’s for 2024. There is not much of a question of who they believe is their best receiving option.