And right now, the Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest chess match isn’t happening on the field. It’s unfolding behind closed doors — in meetings, phone calls, and quiet conversations that could shape the season before it even begins. The Chiefs aren’t just juggling contracts — they’re walking a financial tightrope. And with one major move locked in, Reid’s next decision carries even bigger consequences.

The Chiefs aren’t just running it back—they’re running at it full speed. And they have to. Andy Reid knows better than anyone that winning and losing are part of the game, but going after it? That’s what separates champion storylines from footnotes. After falling short of the three-peat in 2024, Reid kept it simple: “We learn and we move on.” And moving on starts now. The 2025 season doesn’t begin in September—it starts right here, in the offseason war room. The Chiefs have decisions to make, holes to fill, and a roster to reload if they want to keep Mahomes in “we’re still here” mode come January. By the looks of it, they have started their cook.

For starters, they just locked down one of their defensive anchors. Nick Bolton isn’t going anywhere. According to Adam Schefter, “Just in: LB Nick Bolton is re-signing with the Chiefs on a 3-year, $45 million deal, including $30M fully guaranteed at signing, per source.” That’s not just a re-signing. That’s a statement.

Chiefs Reset Market for Patrick Mahomes’ Protector After Confirming $45M Deal for Nick Bolton

Why? Well, Nick isn’t just an LB—he’s a human heat-seeking missile wrapped in a Chiefs jersey. Meanwhile, the guy led K.C. with 106 tackles and 11 tackles for loss in 2024. So, does that not cut it as to why he deserves this raise? He’s not a one-season wonder. Far from it!

Since getting drafted in the second round in 2021, Bolton has racked up 458 tackles, including the franchise record: 180 stops in 2022. That’s three out of four seasons leading the team in tackles. Safe to say, when Bolton’s on the field, somebody’s getting stopped in their tracks.

But that’s not ‘IT’! Nick has been putting himself in elite company. With 559 career tackles and 37 tackles for loss (including playoffs), he joins a short list of defensive monsters—Luke Kuechly, Lavonte David, NaVorro Bowman, and Patrick Willis—all of whom stacked 10 first-team All-Pro nods combined in their first four seasons.

Oh, and remember that 36-yard scoop-and-score in Super Bowl LVII? Yeah, that was him. Fourth-longest fumble return TD in Super Bowl history. So, you can understand why KC went ahead with it, basically saying, ‘We’re not letting our defensive anchor walk like that.’ That’s a good start to the offseason for Andy & Co., but the front office must do something to cut their Patrick Mahomes headache.

Andy Reid’s Chiefs must do something about Patrick Mahomes’ contract

The Chiefs might be kings of the AFC, but right now, they’re playing a dangerous game with the salary cap. Patrick Mahomes’ contract causing such a ruckus in Kansas City might be the last thing on Andy Reid’s bingo card. Not even that, it’d be the last thing on ours as well.

But the thing is, if they don’t adjust fast, the NFL could be knocking with a hefty fine, lost draft picks, or even voided contracts. Yeah, not exactly the preparation they were planning for. So, what’s the problem? The NFL bumped the salary cap to $279.2 million. And after slapping the franchise tag on Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith, the Chiefs find themselves $17 million over the limit.

The thing is, Chris Phelps of Athlon Sports doesn’t think they’ll touch Mahomes’ contract this time. Instead, the Chiefs might look elsewhere—maybe Chris Jones, who already restructured once, or other high-ticket contracts that could free up space. But let’s be real. At some point, Mahomes’ deal is going to need another tweak, because this cap situation isn’t fixing itself.

As of now, Over the Cap projects the Chiefs’ spending at $272.5 million, so they’re inching closer to compliance. But the window is closing fast. The answer? Well, they might just have to take a page from their biggest rival. Look at what the Bengals are doing with Joe Burrow’s deal: the guy who literally followed Pat and TB12’s blueprints. It has all come full circle. C’est la vie.