NFL Trade Machine: Kansas City Deals Jamaal Charles
By Erik Lambert
A year ago it would’ve been laughable to think the Kansas City Chiefs would consider any sort of NFL trade regarding Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles. Fast forward a few months and things have changed. Suddenly the team has discovered life might not be so bad without him, leading to thoughts that maybe it’s time to move on while his value is still high as Marshall Faulk of NFL Network pointed out.
"“The conversation is, ‘Why does Kansas City keep Jamaal Charles when you saw Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West? For what reason?’” Faulk recently asked the Kansas City Star. “I can’t even see what reason they would continue to pay (him) if they have a way of getting up from under that contract and dispersing money elsewhere to fill some of the gaps that they have. And that’s just real talk — that’s the business of the game.“I love Jamaal, and I think he could find another home. I think there’s a lot left in him. But looking at what went on when he went down in Kansas City, are his days possibly numbered there?”"
The Chiefs pulled off a long winning streak and their first playoff victory since 1994 without Charles in the lineup who suffered a torn ACL in a game against Chicago early in the season. He’s 29-years old and will cost the team $5,312,500 in cap space for 2016. Given the number of important free agents they have to try retaining like Eric Berry, Sean Smith, Jaye Howard and Jeff Allen; it makes perfect sense that they’d want to consider dealing Charles away in exchange for the cap relief and some draft currency as well.
It stands to reason that teams like Dallas, Houston, and the Giants among others would have interest in a deal. They all have considerable needs at the position and enough cap space to get something worked out with his contract. It comes down to whether the Kansas City Chiefs are willing to pull the trigger.