Chiefs make pivotal decisions ahead of free agency | KCSN Daily 3.8
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Free agency doesn’t start until next week, but Chiefs GM Brett Veach has already made a pair of pivotal decisions which will shape the team’s offseason plan.
The franchise tag deadline passed on Tuesday without Kansas City using the tag on LT Orlando Brown Jr., essentially ensuring that he’ll have a chance to test his market in free agency. The two sides could still work out a long-term contract prior to the legal tampering period (March 13-15), but it seems like the two sides are destined for a breakup. Reports have indicated that the franchise tag number ($20M) was too restrictive for the team to be active in free agency. There also seems to be some urgency on the Chiefs’ end to find a long-term solution at left tackle.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Chiefs said goodbye to DE Frank Clark after the former trade acquisition spent four years with the team.
It seems fitting that Clark started 55 career regular season games with Kansas City, recording 127 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss and 24.5 sacks since 2019. While his postseason play and leadership were valued, Clark’s high salary cap number made him the likeliest cut candidate for the team. There remains a chance he returns, but he’ll too get an opportunity to test his market in free agency.
The decisions to move on from both of these players create new needs for the team that could be solved through the free agency period, trade acquisitions, or even during the 2023 NFL draft. It’s certainly a different process than the one the team saw after winning Super Bowl LIV. That time, they retained as many of their own players as possible in an attempt to “run it back.” Now, it seems that the team is trying a different approach — one that’s perhaps a bit more fiscally responsible.
KC Laboratory - The Chiefs will not franchise tag Orlando Brown Jr.
KCSN’s Kent Swanson, Matt Lane and Craig Stout break down the Monday news that the Kansas City Chiefs won't franchise tag left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., as well as the expectation that the team will cut defensive end Frank Clark. They also chat a bit about the 2023 NFL Combine.
Latest on KCSN Substack:
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Joseph Hefner - Where Should the Chiefs Draft an Offensive Lineman?
Kent Swanson - KCSN Draft Guide Sneak Peek: DL Adetomiwa Adebawore
Craig Stout - How Andy Reid has addressed the Left Tackle situation
KCSN Draft Show - Chiefs Super Bowl RUN and D-Line Coaching Philosophy with Chiefs DL Coach Joe Cullen
Kansas City Chiefs' DL coach Joe Cullen joins Shawn Barber and BJ Kissel to talk his coaching journey that led him to Kansas City, the Chiefs' DL room and what he enjoyed most about working with that group, plus much more.
More episodes:
3/5 - How 2023 NFL Draft Tight Ends Are LEARNING From Delanie Walker
Former UCM Mule and NFL TE Delanie Walker joins Shawn Barber from Radio Row at the NFL Scouting Combine to talk about his work with the prospects in Indy, the draft prep process overall, and shares stories you don't want to miss.
3/6 - STANDOUT Day 2 Prospects in 2023 NFL Draft with Dane Brugler and Trevor Sikkema
BJ Kissel catches up with Trevor Sikkema from Pro Football Focus and Dane Brugler from The Athletic to get their thoughts on some offensive and defensive players who are projected to be Day 2 Picks (Rounds 2-4) that they would "Pound the Table" for to join the Chiefs.
3/7 - 2023 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle BREAKDOWN with ESPN's Matt Miller
ESPN's Matt Miller stops by to chat with KCSN's BJ Kissel to break down the Chiefs' defensive tackle situation heading into free agency, plus we react to three interviews with DT prospects in this year's class as we had a chance to sit down with Texas' Keondre Coburn, Rice's (and Kansas City native) Ikenna Enechukwu, and West Virginia's Dante Stills (former Chiefs' ST's great, Gary Stills, son).
3/8 - What You NEED TO KNOW About the 2023 NFL Draft Linebacker Class
KCSN's Kent Swanson and Matt Lane, along with Eric Galko - the Executive Director of the East-West Shrine Bowl - break down the linebackers' group in the 2023 NFL Draft and talk through which prospects could be good fits with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Quick Hits:
From KCSN: A fun fact about the Chiefs’ quarterback and his postseason success from the KC Sports Network squad.
From MVS: First, it was Allen Lazard. Now, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is recruiting another former Packers teammate. Would Robert Tonyan make sense in Kansas City?
From Taylor Lewan: A recently-released left tackle seems to be interested in joining the Chiefs, but are they interested in him?
From the Pro Football Hall of Fame: A new item from Super Bowl LVII is on display in Canton, Ohio.
Important dates:
March 7-April 19: Top 30 visits can now take place along with video or telephone interviews with draft-eligible players.
March 13-15: NFL’s legal tampering period begins.
March 15: New league year begins at 4:00 p.m. ET. 2023 NFL free agency and trading period open. The top 51 rule is now in effect.
March 26-29: Annual League Meeting.
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