Now that the 2019 NFL salary cap is finalized, contract values for restricted free agents have become final as well.
These numbers are significant because the Chiefs have to decide whether they’ll bring back Jordan Lucas and Terrance Smith, who are both scheduled to become restricted free agents in 2019.
Lucas was one of the Chiefs few good players at the safety position in 2018. He’s a former sixth-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins, so if the Chiefs applied an original round tender they’d have to pay him a one year salary of just over $2 million. You can view each tender amount in the tweet from MMQB’s Albert Breer down below.
The same would go for Terrance Smith who was an undrafted free agent brought in by Kansas City following the 2016 NFL draft. The Chiefs could apply a first or second round tender, and be awarded a draft pick if another team signs either player to an offer sheet, but they risk paying them more money if no one picks them up.
The Chiefs also could sign both players to long term extensions before the free agency period begins.
Lucas and Smith have both made solid contributions to Kansas City so far during their careers. However, with only $25 million in salary cap space before factoring in Dee Ford’s franchise tag, the team may seek out alternatives instead of committing a significant investment on a one year qualifying offer.
Is Smith a fit in the Chiefs’ new defensive scheme? Will he be one of your three starters at linebacker in the base defense? Is Lucas going to be able to see playing time as a starter with all the other bodies at safety? These are the tough questions you have to ask, because investing that much for anything less than a starter isn’t worth it for the Chiefs.
