The Chiefs and Free Agency

For the past month we here at ArrowheadOne have spent most of our time talking about offseason plans but mostly the draft… assuming the Kansas City Chiefs trade their current quarterback Alex Smith for more picks. However, the NFL draft is still 3 months away but Free Agency begins in only six weeks.

While the draft appears to be deep in QBs it’s not out of the question for the Chiefs to sign a backup QB if the trade-Alex-Smith scenario plays out. There’s a bit of history for this kind of signing with Chase Daniel and Nick Foles on the books. If Tyler Bray is going to be re-signed as the back-up, the Chiefs will have problems should Patrick Mahomes go down, even for one game.

This draft is also deep in running backs but this regime has been known to sign players first, thereby reducing the need to draft a player in a specific position. RB Spencer Ware may not be ready to go this coming season which makes the need for a RB even higher on the priority list. Consequently, a RB like Carlos Hyde may be just what the doctor ordered. Hyde is just coming off of his rookie deal and has finished four years with the San Francisco 49ers. He’s 27 years old and gained 938 yards in 2017 but what may stand out more for HC Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach, is his 350 receiving yards last year. Walter Football ranks Carlos Hyde at the 38th best Free Agent this offseason which is also right about where Reid and company usually begin to pay attention. He’s not a first wave FA but should be available a few weeks into the Free Agency and consequently not cost as much. If you’re hoping the Chiefs draft a RB in this stronger than usual class, the signing of Hyde should not stop K.C. from doing just that, since RB was a position of little depth for the Chiefs in 2017.

When Carlos Hyde came out of college, Nolan Nawrocki of CBS Sports said of Hyde: “A big, strong, powerful, NFL feature back who carried the Buckeyes’ offense as a senior and proved he can be a workhorse. Solid all-around, chunk runner well-built for the physicality of the AFC North.”

Another position that the Chiefs could look at is Defensive tackle. I mentioned before that I wouldn’t mind seeing Dontari Poe make a return to the Three Musketeers (although Jaye Howard is still at large) I see the Chiefs taking interest more in the man that Walter Football ranks right ahead of Carlos Hyde: DT DaQuan Jones. Now, most fans may not be very excited about seeing an ex-Titans player coming on board but at 6-foot-3 inches tall and weighing in at 320, Jones is a run-stopping machine and isn’t that what this offseason should be all about: fixing the run defense? Jones made $1.8M in 2017 and while he’s likely looking for Bennie Logan money (1-year for $10M) he could probably be had in the $7-to-$8M dollar range… especially if some time goes by without any teams willing to shell out the big dough. A one-year $8M dollar-prove-it-deal seems resonable and we should get more out of him than Mr. Logan gave us. By-the-by… the Washington Redskins are interested in Bennie Logan. Good luck with that.

When DaQuan Jones came out of college and prior to the draft, Ryan Lownes of the Bleacher Report said of Jones: “Excellent size with enough length. Has played at weights over 330 pounds but looked quicker after shedding it. Capable of playing in multiple defensive fronts. Has experience playing 1-tech and 3-tech in a 4-3 along with nose tackle and 5-tech in a 3-4; he could potentially adapt to most schemes in the NFL.”

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Here’s a name you may remember from a few years ago in the draft: Austin Seferian-Jenkins. He hasn’t exactly worked out as a TE for the N.Y. Jets as he’s only gained 1,070 yards total in his 5-year career for them. DraftScout says, “Austin Seferian-Jenkins is only 25 and seems to have embraced sobriety” so now we know somewhat of the challenges he’s been facing. He looks like he’s filled with un-tapped potential and frankly, I can’t stand the idea of the Chiefs bringing TE Demetrius Harris back again. At 6-foot-6 inches and weighing 262 pounds, Seferian-Jenkins still has the tools to be a good blocker, which is what Andy Reid likes his #2 TE to be able to do, primarily. Since Reid likes TEs with upside, he might as well try on Austin Seferian-Jenkins on for size. You may have heard me preaching before that even the best of players in the wrong system can turn out badly for everyone involved. I think that’s what may have happened with him and if Reid could get the best out of him…. Not only that, but, the Chiefs offense can shift into high gear with another solid pass catching (some one who holds onto the ball) tight end.

When Austin Seferian-Jenkins came out of college and prior to the draft (I for one was crazy about him), Leo Howell of bucsnation.com said of him: “Austin Seferian-Jenkins… has all the size you could ask for in a receiving target, and he knows how to use it. He’s capable in the red zone and between the 20s as a huge target in the middle of the field. He’s also totally in control of his large frame, and has good, strong hands to pluck the ball out of the air no matter where it’s thrown. Seferian-Jenkins stands at 6’6″ tall, and has long arms, and can catch outside of his body. This makes him a huge target in the passing game….“

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Another position the Chiefs have traditionally been good at signing players to is Safety. The Chargers signed Tre Boston for a one-year deal a year ago and Boston played well reeling in 5 INTs. It’s not out of the question… as long as we can get someone from K.C. to bump into him and convince him to sign here. Think I’m joking? Just last summer Boston ran into a man at a gas station and the man was adamant that he sign with the Chargers after Boston has been going back and forth in his mind between signing with the Bills or the Steelers. That’s when Boston chose the Chargers. Think I’m crazy? Although I know you’re already convinced of that… check this out –> here.

When Tre Boston came out of college and prior to the draft, Nolan Nawrocki of NFL.com said of him: “Drops downhill quickly and can slip into short hole. Can secure tackles in the box when he has a clear path. Snagged 13 career interceptions. Has played safety and cornerback. Vocal leader of secondary. Three-year starter. Was a 21-year-old senior.”

A big part of the offseason picture is Free Agency. It always seems backwards to me, like the Draft should come BEFORE Free Agency… so then your team would know who they really need to sign to fill in the gaps. But, this is what we’ve got and so a bit of projecting is in order. The kind of projecting that means the Chiefs will have to predict just which players they’ll be able to attain via the draft and then work backwards by signing the players they need in Free Agency first.

Alright, who do you think the Chiefs will be targeting in Free Agency? Here are a few links to get you going. Let me know what you think:

NFL Trade Rumor’s 2018 Top 100 Free Agents

Walter Football’s 2018 Top 100 NFL Free Agents

CBS Sports 2018 Free Agents and potential Cap Casualties

Twitter Feeds on 2018 NFL Free Agents

Pro Football Focus: 2018 Free Agency Tracker- and alphabetical list

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