Chiefs Roster: 4 roster decisions that could come down to finances

Three weeks before the start of training camp on July 21, the Kansas City Chiefs appear to be in great financial shape for the 2025 season. We currently estimate the team to be $11.5 million under the limit — a stark contrast to recent offseasons of operating with minimal breathing room.

That cushion also stands to grow should the Chiefs agree to an extension with franchise-tagged guard Trey Smith ahead of the July 15 deadline. Doing so would likely substantially reduce Smith’s current $23.4 million cap number.

While Kansas City could comfortably go into the season from a cap perspective, dollars and cents will likely play into some of the general manager Brett Veach’s final roster decisions. Fans and media focus heavily on the salary cap, but team decision-makers must also factor in the overall team budget.

Here are four pending decisions that may not have substantial salary cap impact but might be of bigger concern before Week 1 to those actually writing game checks.

Rounding out the cornerback room

The Chiefs rebuilt their secondary in 2022 with half of the team’s 10 draft selections devoted to defensive backs. As four members of the quintet enter the final season of their rookie contracts, their snaps are becoming more expensive.

Looking at the Chiefs roster, cornerback Joshua Williams’ scheduled (non-guaranteed) $3.4 million salary stands out as disproportionate to his role. Earlier in the offseason, we looked at a mandatory raise Williams earned due to high defensive snap counts in 2022 and 2024, while the Chiefs managed injuries to Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, respectively. Upon Watson returning for the playoffs in January, Williams did not see a postseason defensive snap.

The offseason has made his hold on his roster spot somewhat precarious after the Chiefs traded up to the 85th selection in April’s draft to select former California cornerback Nohl Williams. Also, when fellow 2022 cornerback draftee Nazeeh Johnson agreed to a reduced contract with Kansas City in March, the team guaranteed $1.2 million of his earnings. Joshua Williams has no guaranteed salary for 2025.

Williams will certainly have a chance in camp and the preseason to make his case to stay with the Chiefs, but he should currently be seen as a strong candidate to be traded or cut after the preseason. Absent a transaction note of a reduced salary, the math is unlikely to be on his side.

Another 2022 draft pick

Veach’s selection of wideout Skyy Moore with the 54th selection of the 2022 NFL Draft has not panned out. While Moore’s $1.5 million salary for the final season of his rookie deal is hardly significant, nine currently rostered wide receivers have cheaper 2025 salaries.

Like Williams, none of Moore’s 2025 base salary is guaranteed (he would leave behind about $543,000 in dead money from a signing bonus proration and a likely earned 2025 workout bonus). Moore also faces direct competition for this year’s roster from a 2025 draft selection in wideout Jalen Royals.

In a deep receiving room, it is hard to see how Moore will differentiate himself from the field. He has never developed a role on special teams, with only 55 career snaps on the third unit over three seasons. His lack of size limits his blocking upside, making him ill-suited for most three and four-wide receiver packages.

Moore will face heavy competition in St. Joseph from cheaper players more experienced with the dirty-work responsibilities of a reserve wideout.

Could an offseason favorite face ‘CJ Spiller treatment?’

By most accounts, veteran tight end Robert Tonyan — who signed to Kansas City’s practice squad in December — stood out at organized team activities (OTAs) and the Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp last month.

With franchise legend Travis Kelce possibly in line for a reduced role at age 35 and 2024 draft pick Jared Wiley still recovering from a torn ACL, Tonyan would appear a strong fit in the Chiefs’ tight end role.

Ironically, Tonyan’s veteran status could prove an obstacle to the active roster. Players with four or more accredited seasons see their entire base salary become guaranteed if on a 53-man roster (or certain reserve lists) for their team’s Week 1 contest.

The Chiefs have proven themselves very hesitant to lock in even marginal salaries — such as Tonyan’s $1.3 million for 2025 — to back-of-the-roster talent. The most notable case was running back CJ Spiller being released immediately before the 2017 season opener, only to re-sign with the club for Week 2.

Assuming Kansas City’s initial third tight end will eventually be replaced by a returning Wiley, it would not be surprising to see Tonyan on and off the active roster multiple times in 2025.

Which minimal-cost punter will stick?

Most observers expected the Chiefs’ punter battle between incumbent Matt Araiza and undrafted rookie Eddie Czaplicki to be settled at minicamp.

While Araiza had already won the job by last July, it appears this year’s competition will continue through at least the first part of training camp.

Although finance is unlikely to influence the decision, Czaplicki would be owed $115,000 less than Araiza. The rookie also has $100,000 of his 2025 compensation guaranteed, potentially effectively making Araiza over $200,000 more expensive.

Araiza finally signed his exclusive rights tender — worth $960,000 — at the end of minicamp. None of that amount, however, is guaranteed. Do not be surprised if the Chiefs go with the slightly cheaper option who does have an actual guaranteed salary.