Andy Reid discusses Joe Thuney’s departure

Final week, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs made a stunning transfer: buying and selling veteran guard Joe Thuney — named first-team All Professional within the final two seasons — to the Chicago Bears. The transfer netted the Chiefs solely a 2026 fourth-round draft choice, however instantly opened $16 million in salary-cap house.

Over the weekend, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid appeared on “The Bettor Angle” podcast with Cam Smith and Clay Harbor on The BetMGM Community. Harbor — a former NFL tight finish — performed for Reid from 2010-12 with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Though the coach is nicely seasoned within the enterprise facet of the NFL, Reid lamented shedding Thuney from his squad.

“He’s one of my favorite all time guys that I’ve coached,” Reid declared. “He’s just a good dude — tough, dirty tough. He’s going to do Chicago a heck of a job. He still can play.”

As the beginning of the league yr approaches on Wednesday, Reid confirmed that wage cap concerns performed a job within the determination. After a number of strikes — together with seeing fellow guard Trey Smith signal a $23.4 million franchise tag tender and reportedly guaranteeing $21.2 million on a two-year contract for sort out Jaylon Moore — Kansas Metropolis is now over $30 million above the restrict.

“You’ve got to be able to manage this cap thing — and it’s a nightmare that way,” the coach defined. “In the event you’re not going to push a ton of cash ahead, then you definitely’ve bought to handle the cap and attempt to preserve per this entire profitable factor.

“And it’s not easy to manage. Sometimes, you have to make these decisions, and it just kicks you right in the butt. They’re tough ones. They’re just tough.”

Picture by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Photographs

Whereas acknowledging the chance of the transfer, Reid cited second-year professional Kingsley Suamataia as a chance to interchange Thuney. He additionally talked about Mike Caliendo, who began at left guard late within the season and within the playoffs as Thuney kicked outdoors to left sort out.

“We’re lucky to have some guys that we feel like can step in and play that position,” he said. “You’ve bought to go forward, and also you’ve bought to take no matter threat there may be. You’ve bought to take it and say, ‘Hey, listen, we’ve performed some issues within the draft to make it possible for we’re able the place we will make this entire profitable factor a chance.’

“We did that last year with Kingsley, and he’ll have an opportunity. Caliendo did a nice job working into that position. So, you’ve got competition at that left guard spot. Then, it gave us that opportunity to maybe move Joe — and move him into a place that he really wanted to come to.”