<p>KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The cash-strapped Kansas City Chiefs continued to free up salary-cap space Monday ahead of the start of free agency later this week by restructuring contracts with some of their most high-profile players.</p>
<p>The Chiefs already planned to convert some of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ roster bonus into a signing bonus to free up about $17 million. Now they are reworking the contracts of tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones to create about $20 in additional space, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.</p>
<p>The person spoke on condition of anonymity because such contract matters are rarely disclosed.</p>
<p>Sports Illustrated was first to report that Jones and Kelce were restructuring their contracts. Along with the deal with Mahomes, this helps the Chiefs deal with a salary cap cut by $16 million to $182.5 million this year due to lost revenues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
<p>The Chiefs were more than $20 million over the salary cap a few weeks ago, but they wiped out most of that when they released left tackle Eric Fisher and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. Fisher is recovering from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon and Schwartz from a back procedure, and there was no guarantee either would be available for training camp.</p>
<p>Still, the moves left the Chiefs with even more holes along an offensive line in desperate need of a rebuild.</p>
<p>The Chiefs expect to get offensive guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and third-round pick Lucas Niang back after they opted out of last season, giving them a jumpstart on the work. The upcoming draft also is heavy with offensive line prospects, and the money they have freed up should help in free agency, which officially opens Wednesday.</p>
<p>The Chiefs, who lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Super Bowl rout, also could be searching for help at wide receiver, pass rush and in the defensive backfield. They let tight end Deon Yelder become a free agent rather than tender him an offer, which means they could be in the market for a veteran backup at that position, too.</p>
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