Only four teams have less salary cap space than the Kansas City Chiefs who have $6.1M in cap space. Only the Saints ($2.6M), Steelers ($3.6M), Jets ($4.3M) and Bills ($5.8M) have fewer available cap space dollars. This according to numbers provided by the NFLPA.
That's OK though as the Chiefs have completed their big push in free agency by re-signing Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson and Jaye Howard while tagging Eric Berry and adding Mitch Schwartz. The big money has been accounted for at this point.
If the Chiefs need more cap space, which they probably will as needs remain (cornerback, offensive line), there is one obvious place to do that: Eric Berry's contract.
The Chiefs safety was franchise tagged which means the Chiefs own his rights to a one-year, $10.8M contract, which counts fully against the cap. The Chiefs would like to wipe that away and give Berry a long-term contract, and the deadline to do so is July 15.
The advantage to a long-term deal with Berry - besides keeping a really good player - is that it would likely lower Berry's $10.8M cap number and give the Chiefs more cap space this season. For example, Justin Houston signed a huge six-year, $101M contract last year. His first year cap number? $5.1M.
This one makes too much sense not to happen. The Chiefs want Berry here long-term and more cap space would help.