Chiefs GM Brett Veach On Mahomes, OL, Watkins
The Chiefs are coming off a very disappointing Super Bowl loss, and although they’re coming off back to back AFC titles, they know they’ve got some work to do this offseason. GM Brett Veach met with the media on Monday, and dished on what lies ahead.
Perhaps most notably, Veach provided an update on Patrick Mahomes. Everything appears to have gone smoothly with Mahomes’ foot surgery, as the GM said he’ll definitely be ready for training camp and the team is hoping he can participate in mandatory minicamp in June. Mahomes was hobbled down the stretch, but it doesn’t sound like this is going to be an issue of much importance for 2021.
Kansas City’s offensive line (deservedly so) took a lot of blame for the Super Bowl loss, and Veach acknowledged it’s a priority. He highlighted the two COVID-19 opt-outs the team had on the O-line, as well as the loss of left tackle Eric Fisher in the AFC Championship Game, but made it clear the team wasn’t going to stand pat.
“From the offset here, the draft looks to be really talented on the offensive line. So I think it’ll be a combination of what we have in-house and blending that in with some new talent. Potentially in free agency and potentially in the draft,” Veach said, via Charles Goldman of the Chiefs Wire.
Speaking of the offensive line, Veach said that right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who was limited to six games in 2020, had disk surgery on his back and the team is hopeful he’ll be ready for training camp as well. He said the same thing about Fisher, although that might be a bit of a reach considering he’s coming off a torn Achilles at 30.
Finally, Veach talked about the receiving corp and specifically Sammy Watkins. He said it would take more work than it did last year to bring Watkins back, which could be GM-speak for the team being likely to move on. Veach said the team feels good about Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, and Byron Pringle and that “I can’t see us running out of the gates in the first week of free agency and signing a receiver,” via Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link).
The last we heard was right before the Super Bowl, when there was apparently mutual interest between Watkins and the Chiefs in sticking together, but it sounds like it might be an uphill battle to get it to work financially. Watkins took a pay-cut last April to stay with the team for 2020.
Chiefs Want Tyrann Mathieu “For Years To Come”
Tyrann Mathieu has just one year to go on his three-year, $42MM deal. But, GM Brett Veach says that he hopes to keep the standout safety “for years to come.” 
[RELATED: Eagles Requested Eric Bieniemy Interview]
“We will have some work to do, get with him and his agents,” Veach said (Twitter link via Jake Lebahn of WIBW). “He has proven to be a great leader and player and in the community, we hope to have him with this organization for years to come.”
An extension would make lots of sense for the Chiefs. First, it would keep Mathieu in red and white for 2022 and beyond. Also, a new deal could tamp down Mathieu’s sizable cap charge. As it stands, the first-team All-Pro is set to count for $19.7MM against the cap in 2021. With the cap set to drop, that would give the Chiefs some much needed capital to work with in March.
Last year, Mathieu notched 62 tackles, 6 interceptions, and nine passes defensed. Mathieu scored his deal during an uncertain period for the safety market, but he’s held up his end of the bargain. And, even though he lost his cool during the Chiefs’ frustrating Super Bowl performance, Veach wants to keep him in the fold for the long run.
The Only NFL Players With No-Trade Clauses
It’s fairly common for disgruntled NFL players to give their teams a short list of acceptable trade destinations. However, it’s still quite rare for players to hold contractual veto power over a trade. Currently, there are only nine NFL players with a no-trade clause in their deals, as ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets: 
▪️ Drew Brees, QB (Saints)
▪️ Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, OL (Chiefs)
▪️ Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (49ers)
▪️ Jimmy Graham, TE (Bears)
▪️ DeAndre Hopkins, WR (Cardinals)
▪️ Patrick Mahomes, QB (Chiefs)
▪️ Deshaun Watson, QB (Texans)
▪️ J.J. Watt, DL (Cardinals)
▪️ Russell Wilson, QB (Seahawks)
The Chiefs, who represent 25% of the list, furnished LDT with a NTC as a part of his contract restructure. Historically, there haven’t been many offensive lineman to secure the clause. However, Duvernay-Tardif had a bit of leverage in 2020 when the Chiefs needed extra cap room. He was scheduled to count for nearly $9MM, $6.45MM of which was comprised of base salary. Instead, he converted some of that money into a signing bonus over the remaining three years and came away with a perk typically reserved for quarterbacks.
Watson and Wilson are among the QBs who can block trades. They’re both putting it to use, albeit in different ways. Watson wants out — even after finally meeting with new head coach David Culley – and he’s steering himself towards a small group of teams, including the Dolphins and Panthers. Wilson, meanwhile, says that he doesn’t want to get traded and doesn’t expect to get traded. But, if the Seahawks do shop him, he wouldn’t mind joining up with the Bears, Cowboys, Saints or Raiders. In beating out several other teams for Watt, the Cardinals included the clause in the star defender’s contract.
Eagles Requested Eric Bieniemy Interview
Earlier this year, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that the Eagles did not submit an officially interview request for offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. But, according to the league’s recently-released report, the Eagles did, in fact, submit a formal request (Twitter link via Rob Maaddi of 97.5 The Fanatic). 
[RELATED: Chiefs, Bieniemy Agree To Extension]
Bieniemy, 51, was said to be among the hottest candidates of the cycle. But, he was passed over for head coaching opportunities yet again, even as his high-octane Chiefs offense returned to the Super Bowl. The Chiefs are happy to still have him on board, though Reid would have liked to see him get his big break. Recently, the Chiefs furnished the talented OC with a brand new extension — and, a raise, probably — to keep him in place for 2021.
All seven teams with openings, including the Eagles, asked to talk with Bieniemy. Before the Birds ultimately hired Nick Sirianni, they met with a number of candidates, including Jerod Mayo, Dennis Allen, and the famously indecisive Josh McDaniels.
Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz Undergoes Back Surgery
The Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Buccaneers was a result of a number of factors, but chief (!) among them was the absence of starting offensive tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. Without his two OL bookends, Patrick Mahomes was victimized by Tampa’s relentless pass rush, and Kansas City’s top-flight offense was unable to establish any sort of rhythm.
Schwartz, who suffered a back injury in October that ended his streak of 134 consecutive regular-season starts, underwent back surgery today, as Adam Teicher of ESPN.com relays. Schwartz posted a picture of himself in his hospital bed on Instagram, and luckily for the Chiefs, he says his recovery is not expected to take too long.
“It’s time to address the issue since it isn’t going away on its own,” he wrote. “The recovery process isn’t too long, hence being able to wait until now to do it, otherwise I would have done this earlier. Looking forward to a healthy 2021!”
It sounds like Schwartz, who will turn 32 in June, will be back on the field no later than Week 1 of the 2021 season. He has never made a Pro Bowl and has just one First Team All-Pro nod to his credit, but he has doubtlessly been one of the best right tackles in the game since he entered the league as a second-round pick of the Browns in 2012.
He is due to earn just $4.9MM in base salary this season — the last of his current contract — but will carry a $10MM cap hit. Still, given his value to the team, that cap charge does not seem particularly onerous, though the Chiefs could consider an extension to create more flexibility. The club is roughly $23MM over the cap at the moment.
Browns Lead NFL In Salary Cap Carryover
Earlier today, the NFL Players Association announced (via Twitter) the salary cap carryover amounts for all 32 NFL teams for the 2021 season. Effectively, teams are able to rollover their unused cap from the previous season. So, when the 2021 salary cap numbers become official, they can be added to each team’s carryover amount to determine that individual club’s official cap for 2021.
This follows news from earlier today that the NFL has raised its salary cap floor to $180MM for 2021. This total could clue us in to the salary cap maximum, which could end up landing north of $190MM. The salary cap was $198.2MM for the 2020 campaign.
As the NFLPA detailed, the league will rollover $315.1MM from the 2020 season, an average of $9.8MM per team. The Browns lead the league with a whopping $30.4MM, and they’re the only team in the top-five to make the playoffs. The NFC East ($68.8MM) and AFC East ($65.3MM) are the two divisions will the largest carryover amounts.
The full list is below:
- Cleveland Browns: $30.4MM
- New York Jets: $26.7MM
- Dallas Cowboys: $25.4MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $23.5MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $22.8MM
- New England Patriots: $19.6MM
- Denver Broncos: $17.8MM
- Washington Football Team: $15.8MM
- Miami Dolphins: $15.2MM
- Detroit Lions: $12.8MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $10.8MM
- Houston Texans: $9.2MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $8.3MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $8.1MM
- Chicago Bears: $7MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $5.7MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $5.1MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $5MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $5MM
- New York Giants: $4.8MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $4.6MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $4.5MM
- Carolina Panthers: $4.3MM
- New Orleans Saints: $4.1MM
- Buffalo Bills: $3.8MM
- Green Bay Packers: $3.7MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $3.6MM
- Tennessee Titans: $2.3MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $1.9MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $1.8MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $956K
- Baltimore Ravens: $587K
Jaguars Add Three To Front Office
Urban Meyer and Trent Baalke will be overseeing personnel matters in Jacksonville going forward. The staff that will help this duo oversee a Jaguars rebuild is beginning to take shape.
The Jaguars added Trip MacCracken, Michael Davis and Drew Hughes to their front office this week. Two members in this trio will move to Jacksonville after extensive time in Kansas City during the Chiefs’ Andy Reid era, while Hughes will come up from the college ranks. These staffers will also join longtime NFL exec Tom Gamble in Jacksonville’s front office.
MacCracken, who will serve as the Jaguars’ director of roster management, was with the Chiefs from 2010-17. The Scott Pioli-era hire stayed on for several years under Reid. Prior to that, MacCracken served as a Browns exec from the franchise’s 1999 rebirth until 2009. MacCracken figures to be a key cog in the Jags’ cap department. The team parted ways with previous cap exec John Idzik last month.
Tabbed as a senior personnel executive in Jacksonville, Davis joined MacCracken in Kansas City for a time. Davis, however, stayed on during the Chiefs’ two Super Bowl years. He was with the team for the past five years, working mainly in the Chiefs’ scouting department. Davis spent 16 years with the Jets’ scouting department and was with the Eagles for a short time ahead of his Kansas City move.
Hughes will return to north Florida, as the Jags’ player personnel coordinator, after a one-year stay as director of player personnel at South Carolina. He held the same position with the Gators, though he did so after Meyer had left for Ohio State.
The Jaguars are currently the only team to have more than $70MM in cap space. This and the rebuilding franchise’s two first-round picks will make 2021 a pivotal year.
Chiefs Asst. Turns Down College DC Job
- The University of Tennessee offered Chiefs linebackers coach Matt House its defensive coordinator job, but House turned down the Volunteers, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (on Twitter). House has been with the Chiefs for two years, coming to Kansas City after a three-year stay as the University of Kentucky. He was the Wildcats’ DC for two of those slates.
Chiefs Sign Two Receivers To Reserve/Futures Deals
On the heels of their Super Bowl loss the Chiefs are doing some housekeeping and getting their offseason affairs in order. Kansas City signed receivers Gehrig Dieter and Dalton Schoen to reserve/futures contracts today.
Dieter is a familiar name to Chiefs fans, while Schoen is a new one. The 2021 season will be Dieter’s fifth in Kansas City after he signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He’s bounced between the active roster and practice squad the past few years, catching only one pass for ten yards in four games this season. Dieter making it this far is already a pretty big success, as he only had 214 yards in his senior season at Alabama after transferring over from Bowling Green.
He’s also known for being close with Patrick Mahomes, which certainly doesn’t hurt his cause with the team. Schoen is a local kid who played college ball at Kansas State before signing with the Chargers as an UDFA this offseason. He failed to make the team and wasn’t heard of during the regular season before resurfacing now on this futures deal.
Britt Reid No Longer With Chiefs
WEDNESDAY: A clarification on this matter emerged Wednesday evening. Reid’s administrative leave only applied through the end of his contract, which Adam Schefter of ESPN.com notes has expired (Twitter link). Reid is no longer with the Chiefs. Reid has been with the Chiefs throughout his father’s eight-year tenure as head coach.
TUESDAY: The Kansas City Chiefs announced this evening that they have placed outside linebackers coach Britt Reid on administrative leave (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter). This comes after last week’s car accident that left five-year-old Ariel Young in critical condition.
“We remain in the process of gathering information on the incident, and we will continue to assist local authorities as requested,” the statement read. “Our focus remains on Ariel Young and her family. We have reached out to the family to offer our support and resources to them during this difficult time, and we will continue to pray for her recovery.”
At the scene of the crash, an officer detected “a moderate odor of alcoholic beverages” on Reid, as well as his “bloodshot and red” eyes. Reid had admitted to having two or three alcoholic drinks and taking prescription Adderall before the accident.
The son of head coach Andy Reid, the younger Reid didn’t accompany the Chiefs to Tampa Bay for their eventual Super Bowl loss. Following the game, the head coach spoke for the first time about the auto crash.
“My heart goes out to all those who were involved in the accident, in particular the family with the little girl who’s fighting for her life,” Reid said (via ESPN’s Adam Teicher). “I can’t comment on it any more than what I am here. So the questions you have, I’m going to have to turn those down; but just from a human standpoint, my heart bleeds for everybody involved in that.”
The eighth-year Chiefs assistant has encountered legal issues in the past. Reid previously served five months in prison for a 2007 road rage incident and pleaded guilty to DUI and drug charges in a separate 2008 incident.