According to multiple reports, the Chiefs will be sending starting guard/tackle Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears for a 4th round pick at the start of the league year. Thuney’s cap charge for Kansas City was $26.97 million and his trade will free up $16 million for the Chiefs in both cash and cap. They will take on a dead money charge of $10.97 million with his release. The initial cap hit for the Bears will be $16 million once the trade is official.

The move for Kansas City comes across as a long play, short term salary dump type of trade. The Chiefs had major investments on the offensive line with Trey Smith now franchised at $23.4 million and Jawaan Taylor and Creed Humphrey under contract at $20 million and $18 million per year respectively. Smith has major leverage on the Chiefs if negotiating a new contract and Taylor’s salary is fully guaranteed this year which likely left Thuney as the odd man out.

Thuney was in the final year of a five year, $80 million contract he signed with the Chiefs as a free agent back in 2021. The odds of extending him were small and even without him on the roster the Chiefs are over the salary cap and have a top 10 payroll. Traditionally the Chiefs payroll is around 20th in the NFL and to have back to back top 10 payroll years would be pretty surprising for KC.

Had the Chiefs allowed Thuney to walk after the season the best they would have done in return would have been a 5th round compensatory pick in 2027, so getting a 4th round pick now is probably considered a pretty strong return, all things considered.

For the Bears this allows them to continue to rework their offensive line in what is a pivotal season for QB Caleb Williams and GM Ryan Poles. Thuney is a major short term upgrade for Chicago while Jonah Jackson, if he can return to his form from his days in Detroit, was also a big upgrade. Even after both trades the team should have around $50 million in cap room, give or take a bit.

I would be cautious about extending Thuney if I were Chicago. A 4th round pick isnt a massive investment and they would be able to reclaim a compensatory pick if they maneuver free agency carefully next year. Thuney will be 33 years old during the season and it would probably be best to see how he fits in the offense and how some other older players along the offensive line pan out this year before rushing into a new three year contract.