Sometimes, it’s better to spend money than to save it. For the sake of example, look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ historic contract with Patrick Mahomes. In 2020, the franchise signed the star signal caller to an unprecedented 10-year, $503-million contract extension.
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With $477 million in guarantees, the deal was celebrated for being the single largest in sports history, with some even voicing concerns that the exorbitant payday would come with a great amount of long-term risk for the franchise.
Fast forward to the Summer of 2025, and it appears as if the money was well spent. The Chiefs have two more Lombardi Trophies, and Mahomes has just the 14th-highest salary of any quarterback in the league.
Nevertheless, the large figures involved in the deal itself have resulted in fans and pundits alike using it as a reference point for what tend to be rather hyperbolic comparisons. Such is the case with Jeff Mueller’s most recent post on X.
In response to a fantasy football page noting that the Indianapolis Colts could save more than $13 million by cutting their star offensive player, Jonathan Taylor, the NFL injury analyst made a similar tweet using Mahomes’ deal with the Chiefs in an attempt to highlight the absurdity of suggesting that the Colts should cut Taylor.
The Chiefs can save $11million from cutting Patrick Mahomes in 2026, and another $30million in 2027.
Stash Gardner Minshew! https://t.co/jNltOOETQC
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) June 4, 2025
Unfortunately, commentators weren’t onboard with his comparison. Given the amount of injury concerns surrounding Taylor specifically, in addition to the presumed volatility of the running back position, many believe that the conversation is worth having.
Teams cut players like running backs all the time for cap savings.
Also this is a terrible comparison
JT is not Mahomes of RBs and we have no idea what the comp would be for Giddens yet.
Maybe he turns into a nothing burger but I thought this was fair from @FFSnoog
— Draft Nerd (@draftnerddaword) June 4, 2025
In light of the proverbial notion that running backs begin to fall off around the age 27, some believe that an early dip in production could very well be in the cards for a running back that has as much perceived wear and tear as Taylor.
You’re insinuating that his take is as absurd as your fake one but he’s talking about a position with a young age cliff and a guy they were reluctant to pay in the first place. Not far fetched at all.
— Jon Cogan (@therealjoncogan) June 4, 2025
Others simply chose to take the post at face value, and could not believe what they were reading.
Them ppl say the dumbest shit ever man.
— NorthernColt (@RandyNorthern3) June 4, 2025
While the comparison itself is certainly a bit extravagant, at least a few were willing to acknowledge and accept the ultimate point that Mueller was trying to make.
lol not *quiiiiite* the same thing but point taken
— Funky Jankets (@FunkyJankets) June 4, 2025
As far Mahomes and the Chiefs are concerned, the NFL’s premiere passer is doing everything in his power to make the finer points of the deal work in favor of the franchise. Restructures have become a routine for the two parties, and it will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future.
Considering that the Chiefs are coming off of what was nearly the most lopsided loss in Super Bowl history, it should come as no surprise to see similar deals being made in the future. Nevertheless, if Kansas City wants to avenge their historic loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, they’ll need every spare dollar that they can find.
Thankfully, they’ll clearly have no issue spending it when the time comes. Both Mahomes and the Chiefs have shown a willingness to fudge the numbers in order to make the necessary happen.
So long as the finances are covered on the backend, it’s likely that neither one of them has a problem with this.