Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs make huge decision on contract

Feb 19, 2026 - 19:30

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Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs make huge decision on contract

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t just create cap room. They performed cap sorcery in broad daylight – and the rest of the NFL just sighed in unison. Per reporting, the Chiefs reworked Patrick Mahomes’ 2026 contract to free up about $43.6 million in Chiefs salary cap space, slashing his 2026 cap number from roughly $78.2M down to about $34.65M.

The mechanism is the classic move – convert a giant chunk of 2026 money into bonus-style accounting so the hit spreads out later. Translation: the Chiefs just pushed today’s headache into tomorrow’s spreadsheet.

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Mahomes cap hits:

Top 10 Most Surprising League MVPs in NFL History — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

And yes, tomorrow is going to hurt. Mahomes’ future cap hits balloon – including a reported 2027 cap hit around $85M – because the bill always comes due. But here’s the kicker – the cap is rising anyway. The league has projected the 2026 salary cap in the $301.2M-$305.7M range, which makes kicking the can less terrifying when the can is getting bigger every year.

This move matters because Kansas City’s budget wasn’t just tight – they were staring down an offseason with big decisions. An offseason where they were forced to cut useful players, watch starters walk, and sell the concept of rebuild. Now the Chiefs can actually operate like a contender. They’re able to re-sign priority players, shop in free agency without hitting the bargain bin, and extend players to smooth out 2026-2027 while the cap climbs.

What it could mean for Kelce

Oct 12, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) warms up prior to a game against the Detroit Lions at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

The list of decisions isn’t small. Kansas City has real names in the pay or pray zone – including Travis Kelce headlining the conversation, plus starters/rotation pieces across the roster who suddenly become more keepable when you’re not drowning.

Here’s the truth. This doesn’t mean the Chiefs are fixed by any stretch. It means they’re potentially dangerous. The Mahomes restructure is basically Kansas City doing Kansas City things – they plan to reload aggressively instead of politely stepping aside. The rest of us want parity. The Chiefs just chose violence.