We just finished Week 12 in the first league I joined here and I got an auto-message stating that I have people in the final year of their contracts and if they aren't resigned at the end of the season they'll become free agents. When I go to renegotiate contracts though, it wants to adjust the current season's contract as well, which creates an issue since the team I inherited only has $3.3m in cap space for the current season, which basically means I can sign, at best, one of the players with expiring contracts.

Am I correct to assume that, at some point during the playoffs or at the start of the off-season I will still be able to offer contracts and not have to worry about the impacts to this season's budget or fighting other users on free agency? Or am I basically screwed here?

Only worry about the players that have 1 year left. They will be Free Agents at the beginning of next season.
If you can't sign anyone, you will have to compete with other players during Free Agency.

here is that team Kansas City Chiefs = https://wisconsin-boys.myfootballnow.com/team/4




those players who have 1 year are

QB = https://wisconsin-boys.myfootballnow.com/player/3264
Center = https://wisconsin-boys.myfootballnow.com/player/2824
LDE = https://wisconsin-boys.myfootballnow.com/player/528
DT = https://wisconsin-boys.myfootballnow.com/player/2882
DT = https://wisconsin-boys.myfootballnow.com/player/2575
SLB = https://wisconsin-boys.myfootballnow.com/player/2150
MLB = https://wisconsin-boys.myfootballnow.com/player/3753
MLB = https://wisconsin-boys.myfootballnow.com/player/1000
WLB = https://wisconsin-boys.myfootballnow.com/player/1249
SS = https://wisconsin-boys.myfootballnow.com/player/676
FS = https://wisconsin-boys.myfootballnow.com/player/993

So if I'm understanding your answer correctly, there is no way to offer a contract prior to the free agency period that does not also involve me having the change the salary amount for this current season as well?

I was under the impression that offering contracts to those players who are nearing the end of their current contracts did not effect the current season's cap.

Though, I have seen the current season amount change while extending offers to players. I have never had trouble with the current season cap when renewing contracts.

But I never just use the default contract offers though. They are way too exorbitant! I use a spreadsheet tool that helps to structure contracts that are much more affordable.

Oops. Read the next post.

Incorrect. Any contract will change the current regular season's salary as well as any proceeding salary.[/quote] Salaries are only based on the 16 game regular season.

You cannot adjust a contract in the post-season for next-season. It will still be a contract negotiation for this season.

Bonus money also always starts applying in the current season, and previous bonus money is not expunged. You can see the chart at the bottom of the contract negotiation screen for a player to see how the contract will break down for each year.

Okay, I think I'm getting this figured out then. I'll play with it while waiting for the hurricane to blow past. Appreciate all the answers!!

Most of your players who have expiring contracts are players you should just let walk. The FS and maybe the DT are the only ones I'd try to keep. Concentrate on those and ignore the warnings for the rest.