Travis Kelce’s new Kansas City Chiefs contract appears, on the surface, to be a major long-term commitment.
The deal has been widely reported as a three-year agreement worth $54.7 million. However, the reality behind the structure is far more complex.
And NFL expert Ari Meirov has now explained why it is somewhat misleading.
Ari Meirov explains why Travis Kelce’s Chiefs deal is misleading
According to Meirov, Kelce’s new contract is effectively a one-year deal rather than a true three-year commitment.
The veteran tight end is set to earn around $12 million this season, with a further $3 million available in incentives.
The additional years included in the deal are not designed to guarantee future earnings, but instead exist for salary cap purposes.
By structuring the contract this way, the Chiefs are able to spread the financial impact over multiple seasons.
Meirov also made it clear that Kelce is not actually set to receive another two years and more than $40 million after this campaign.
Instead, the deal includes a trigger date next June that is purely a cap mechanism.
If Kelce decides he wants to continue playing, the contract would be renegotiated. But as it stands, this is not a traditional multi-year agreement.
Travis Kelce all-in on one more Super Bowl push with Chiefs
The structure of the deal points towards what could be Kelce’s final season in the NFL.
The 36-year-old remains a hugely important player for the Chiefs, even if his numbers have dipped slightly from his peak.
Kelce recorded 851 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season, figures that are below his usual standards but still underline his quality.
He continues to be a key target for Patrick Mahomes and a central figure in Kansas City’s offense.
With that in mind, the deal appears to set up one final push for another Super Bowl.
Read more:
