Speaking of Kelce, found this nugget:
Travis Kelce’s contract extension sucks for the superstar tight end. Kelce will be 33 when the new deal takes effect and will only earn $7.5 million in the first year. In the second year of the deal the 34-year-old Kelce is scheduled to earn $13.25 million, then $15 million, then $17.25 million at 36 years old.
See an issue with any of those numbers?
Kelce was only guaranteed $20.75 million and after 2022 (when the new contract starts) he can be cut without the Chiefs having any dead money on the cap. In short- Travis Kelce is unlikely to see ANY of his non-guaranteed money given his age and the structure of the contract.
So why did Travis Kelce, or more specifically his agent agree to such a deal? According to an agent who would know, Kelce wanted an extension with the Chiefs and was growing impatient with his agent’s lack of progress in the negotiations. The agency was worried that Kelce would fire them if a deal wasn’t done soon. Under this pressure, worried about his own paycheck, the agent essentially took the deal that the team offered without much negotiation.
As a result, Travis Kelce likely missed out on tens of millions of dollars.
https://www.stampedeblue.com/2021/1/28/22254545/senior-bowl-diary-day-3-texans-executive-jack-easterby-is-unhinged