Tyson

Jackson

Playing-time incentives had pushed Jackson’s 2012 salary to $8.005 million, but he’ll now make a fully guaranteed $4 million to go along with a $250,000 workout bonus. An additional $500,000 is available through playing-time incentives, while a $2.5 million option bonus that had been due in 2014 has been pushed onto this year’s cap. Jackson’s 2013 salary remains a prohibitive $14.72 million, so the Chiefs will make a decision on him next offseason.

Jackson’s playing-time bonus was easily the most among NFL players this year. Teammate Glenn Dorsey’s base salary has increased from $4.356 million to $5.856 million while LT Branden Albert saw his salary jump from $1.03 million to $2.7175 million. Jackson finally came close to playing up to his draft status in 2011, excelling against the run. His Chiefs career hits a crossroads next offseason now that incentives have pushed his 2013 salary to $14.72 million.

Jackson took a $10 million pay-cut to $4.2 million this offseason. “Not many guys are going to outwork him on the field,” said Reid. “Pass rush was not his forte, but he’s working like crazy to get better. As a coach, that’s all you can ask for. He’s a big man who can move a little bit.” Jackson is coming off the best six-game stretch of his thus far disappointing career, but shouldn’t be better than replacement-level this season.

Since being drafted with the third overall pick in 2009, Jackson has been largely a disappointment in his first three seasons, and is due a prohibitive $14.72 million in the final year of his rookie deal. With former GM Scott Pioli no longer making roster decisions, Jackson will be forced to accept a pay cut if he has any chance of returning with the Chiefs. Packers director of football operations John Dorsey is the “clear-cut favorite” to be named Kansas City’s next general manager.

The third overall pick in the 2009 draft, Jackson has provided next to no pass-rush impact through four seasons while starting on consistently bad Kansas City run defenses. He’s sitting on five career sacks. Jackson’s ultimate undoing will be a $14.72 million base salary and $250K offseason roster bonus.

One of former GM Scott Pioli’s biggest misses was due a laughable $14.72 million, and set to count $17.5 million against the cap. It’s likely at least $10 million has been lopped off his salary, and probably more. The No. 3 pick of the 2009 draft, Jackson has just five sacks across 59 career games. Jackson would have been released had he not agreed to this restructuring.

They’re going to need more if they want to tag Dwayne Bowe, which will cost $11.4 million. The Chiefs can free up more cap space by releasing DE Tyson Jackson. His cap number is almost $17.5 million, and he’s due a $14.7 million base salary. Releasing Jackson alone would save $15 million under the cap. The Chiefs will save almost $6 million more when they cut Matt Cassel.

“Again, we’re in communication with his representatives and we’re just talking through some things,” said Dorsey. Jackson is due a whopping $14.72 million salary in the final year of his deal, in addition to a $250,000 workout bonus. He’s not going to see that kind of money. Jackson very well could be released.

Jackson didn’t get any money converted into bonuses or years added on. He just accepted the Chiefs’ request to lower his base salary from $14.72M to $4.2M. It’s a sign that he expected to find a very soft market if Kansas City cut him.

The line was the biggest weakness on a defense full of holes last season, and Jackson was a primary culprit. Though he was expected to take time to develop as he switched from defensive tackle at LSU, Jackson was also widely seen as about a 20-spot reach at No. 3 overall last year.