Every season, we are reminded that many NFL fans don’t fully understand the intricacies of the salary cap for newly-drafted players. It’s during this time that many Kansas City Chiefs fans will ask, “How much will the team need to sign its draft picks?”
Here’s the short answer: it might be a lot less than you think. Let’s see why this is so — and figure out how much money the Chiefs will really need to sign their draft picks.
How rookies count against the cap
When players are drafted — or when undrafted free agents (UDFAs) are signed after the draft — they immediately count against the salary cap.