Donnie Avery released by Kansas City Chiefs, saves more than $3M in salary cap space

Donnie Avery will not be a Chief next season. According to a report from NFL Network, the Kansas City Chiefs are cutting Donnie Avery.

Source: #Chiefs are cutting veteran WR Donnie Avery, which saves them $3.4M against the cap. Expected to target that position this week.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 17, 2015

This isn't a big surprise considering the Chiefs really needed the cap space they save by cutting Avery.

The Chiefs brought him on as a free agent in the 2013 offseason when he was expected to be the No. 2 receiver in the Chiefs offense. His contract was for three years and over $8 million. He had a so-so first season highlighted by his monster touchdown catch in the Chiefs playoff loss to the Colts.

His second year is where the wheels fell off. Avery underwent sports hernia surgery early in the season last year and never really recovered. He was even a healthy scratch down the stretch so we figured this was coming.

Here's to hoping Albert Wilson can take hold of that No. 2 receiver role entering his second season. That would be a nice boost for the Chiefs if they have someone in him.

The Chiefs gain some cap space. Don't worry -- they have plenty of places they can use it.