KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Here is this week’s edition of the Kansas City Chiefs mailbag. To ask a question for a future edition, send it to me via Twitter (@adamteicher) and tag it #ChiefsMail.
@adamteicher #ChiefsMail If the Chiefs restructure/pay cut Bowe, what do you think would be would be a reasonable contract?
— Justin Christians (@countvalek) January 9, 2015@adamteicher: Something far less than what the Chiefs are scheduled to pay Dwayne Bowe next season. He is due $11 million from the Chiefs in 2015. I would think something in the $5 million range would be reasonable for a player who is still the Chiefs' best wide receiver but no longer a star.
@adamteicher With WR a big need, would the Chiefs spend big money on a guy like Jeremy Maclin? #ChiefsMail
— Nate Pedrow (@npedrow) January 9, 2015@adamteicher: It doesn't look like the Chiefs are going to be able to spend big money on any free agent, unless you're counting Justin Houston in that category. The Chiefs could clear some cap space by releasing players like Bowe, Tamba Hali and Chase Daniel. If they do, Maclin is a player who would make sense for the Chiefs if he's available.
@adamteicher Chiefs are close to a playoff-type roster. But,Ford's unproven/very limited playing time, they must keep Hali! How? #ChiefsMail
— Brent Ross (@Brent102Fire) January 9, 2015@adamteicher: I think Hali would accept a reduced salary to stay with the Chiefs. Whether he and the Chiefs could agree on a number is another matter. But the Chiefs may release him anyway. They showed the blueprint for their thinking last year when they let a productive veteran (Branden Albert) walk to make room for an unproven yet talented younger player (Fisher). They may well do the same thing this year with Hali and Dee Ford, last year's first-round draft pick.
@adamteicher #ChiefsMail Are ILB and SS draft priorities considering how the Chiefs draft to prep for deals in the final year i.e. Berry, DJ
— The BES Report (@TheBESReport) January 9, 2015@adamteicher: Not their main priorities. Wide receiver and offensive line should be. But, yes, they need to start planning for life without Eric Berry and Derrick Johnson. That doesn't mean they have to draft those players this year. But it certainly wouldn't be a bad idea.
@adamteicher what is the likelihood that KC trades C.Daniel for decent WR? #ChiefsMail
— Destiny InDepth (@DestinyInDepth) January 9, 2015@adamteicher: Other teams are aware of the Chiefs' tight salary-cap situation and that they have acquired other quarterbacks to replace Daniel as the main backup. So it would be an unusual (and dumb) move for some team to trade a productive wide receiver to the Chiefs for a career backup quarterback who's probably going to be released anyway.
@adamteicher when is the deadline to release Daniel? Could it happen soon?
— Daniel Weixeldorfer (@dan_wex) January 8, 2015@adamteicher: I believe the date is Feb. 2, the day after the Super Bowl.
@adamteicher Should the Chiefs move on to a different OC Given their basic offense they've used over the past 2 years? #ChiefsMail
— Jason E (@jasone4336) January 7, 2015@adamteicher: Though he doesn't carry the title of offensive coordinator, Andy Reid is basically that. He calls plays and designs the playbook and game plans. He has no plans to give up any of those duties.