Everything you need to know about the Chiefs and free agency
The Chiefs certainly have work to do if they want to accomplish what no team has done before – three-peat. Here is everything you need to know the Chiefs in relation to free agency.
It has been nearly three whole days since the legal tampering period began and we are now almost a full day into the official start of free agency. In the days leading up to it, the Chiefs made their splashes in locking up star defensive tackle Chris Jones and linebacker Drue Tranquill. Those signings have since been made official, but not much else has gone on at One Arrowhead Drive.
According to most, the Chiefs' biggest need is at the wide receiver position. Potential targets Darnell Mooney, Gabe Davis and Calvin Ridley have been paid handsomely and are now off the board. The likes of former Arizona Cardinal Hollywood Brown and the newly released and former Charger, Mike Williams are still on the board though. The Chiefs just won a Super Bowl with a lackluster wide receiver room, but there is no need to make it so hard on themselves.
Other positions, such as left tackle and edge rusher depth are much needed as well. The Chiefs also have yet to decide if they are going to trade franchise cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, which would change a lot of things either way. If traded, do the Chiefs trust Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson to take over that role, or do they want to bring in a veteran body to compete with them? If Sneed is not traded, do they still have the cap space to bring in a needle mover at wide receiver?
There are plenty of questions to still be answered, and the positions mentioned above are not the only ones needing attention. Running back Isiah Pacheco is currently the only running back returning from the Super Bowl roster. The same can be said about Patrick Mahomes and the quarterback position. Mike Pennel and Neil Farrell are the only two interior defensive linemen returning, other than Jones.
The Chiefs certainly have work to do, if they want to accomplish what no team has done before – three-peat. Here is everything you need to know in regard to the Chiefs and free agency.
Cap Space Available
$15,322,361 (per Over The Cap)
Chiefs Free Agent Signings
Tight end, Irv Smith Jr. (Bengals)
Chiefs Re-signings
Defensive tackle, Chris Jones
Linebacker, Drue Tranquill
Long snapper, James Winchester
Safety, Deon Bush
Defensive tackle, Mike Pennel
Departing Chiefs Free Agent Signings
Punter, Tommy Townsend (Houston Texans)
Guard, Nick Allegretti (Washington Commanders)
Linebacker, Willie Gay (New Orleans Saints)
Chiefs Free Agents Still Available
Tight end, Blake Bell
Defensive end, Mike Danna
Safety, Mike Edwards
Running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Tight end, Jody Fortson
Quarterback, Blaine Gabbert
Wide receiver, Mecole Hardman
Linebacker, Darius Harris
Wide receiver, Richie James
Running back, Jerick McKinnon
Defensive tackle, Derrick Nnadi
Left tackle, Donovan Smith
Wide receiver, Marquez Valdez-Scantling
Left tackle, Prince Tega Wanogho
Defensive tackle, Tershawn Wharton
Key Signings by AFC West Opponents
Defensive tackle, Christian Wilkins (Raiders)
Safety, Brandon Joseph (Broncos)
Quarterback, Gardner Minshew (Raiders)
Running back, Gus Edwards (Chargers)
Top Available Wide Receivers, According to Pro Football Focus (Biggest Need)
Hollywood Brown (Cardinals)
Odell Beckham Jr. (Ravens)
Tyler Boyd (Bengals)
Curtis Samuel (Commanders)
DJ Chark (Panthers)
Top Available Left Tackles, According to PFF (2nd Biggest Need)
Tyron Smith (Cowboys)
Trent Brown (Patriots)
Mekhi Becton (Jets)
Josh Jones (Texans)
Donovan Smith (Chiefs)
Top Available Defensive Linemen, According to PFF (3rd Biggest Need)
Defensive tackle, DJ Reader (Bengals)
Edge rusher, Chase Young (49ers)
Edge rusher, Jadeveon Clowney (Ravens)
Defensive tackle, Sheldon Rankins (Texans)
Defensive tackle, Teair Tart (Texans)
Of course, there is way more than these free agents available to the Chiefs, just check out Joseph Hefner’s article from yesterday. Some of these players available are not the best schematic fit, but the point is there is plenty of talent available and the Chiefs are sitting OK cap-wise to make a move or two.
The Chiefs structure contracts in such a way that the first-year cap hit is typically much lower than the following years, or they like to sign players at a lower base with Not Likely To Be Earned incentives that do not count against the cap. Last year the Chiefs signed Tranquill, Edwards and defensive end Charles Omenihu and they all added up to about $10 million in cap space in 2023. Those ended up being the type of signings that played a key part in winning a championship.
What I would like to see is the Chiefs fill in their key holes in the lineup so they can head into the draft not being desperate at a single position. Hopefully in the next few days, we can see some activity as we constantly keep refreshing X/Twitter.
