Patrick Mahomes’ NFL salary will reportedly see a sharp drop this year. According to multiple outlets, he was originally set to count $78.2 million against the salary cap, but that number has now dropped to $34.65 million. They took $54.45 million from his compensation, which will be converted into a signing bonus. This allows the Chiefs to spread the cost across multiple seasons and free up some budget to invest in new talent.
Patrick Mahomes’ 2026 reported salary revealed
According to Forbes, Mahomes was among the NFL’s highest-paid players. The Chiefs star received $50 million on-field and $28 million off-field. However, the figures have changed this year, as multiple outlets report that he could receive significantly less against his salary cap. He was supposed to get $78.2 million, but that figure has reportedly been reduced to $34.65 million.
This salary change leaves the Chiefs with $43.56 million in cap space. This enables them to be flexible with their budget for any potential investment. The team will take $54.45 million from Mahomes’ salary and convert it into a signing bonus. While Mahomes’ paycheck has taken a hit this year, his salary cap figure is reportedly set to increase to over $85 million next year.
During the Chiefs vs. Chargers game, Mahomes suffered a torn ACL, which pulled him out in the closing minutes and also impacted the team’s playoff chances. At the time, Mahomes took to X (formerly Twitter) to address his injury and express gratitude to the Chiefs fandom. “Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie, [it] hurts. But all we can do now is [trust] in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you, Chiefs kingdom, for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I [will] be back stronger than ever,” he said.
Last month, Mahomes shared an update on his recovery and his plans for returning to the field. He aims to be ready for Week 1, and his doctors have indicated that he could potentially recover in time. However, he admitted that he remains uncertain about how the recovery process will unfold. “But I can’t predict what happens throughout the process. That’s the goal: to play Week 1 and have no restrictions. You want to be out there healthy and give us the best chance to win. I hope to do some things in OTAs and training camp and be able to do things there,” he explained (via ESPN).
Originally reported by Shazmeen Navrange for Mandatory.
