Categories: Kansas City ChiefsPaul Pulley

The Chiefs Own Free Agents: Will We or Won’t We?

The Chiefs Own Free Agents:

Will We or Won’t We? · Paul Pulley

I know the NFL Combine is still going on and is a hot topic but with Free Agency beginning next week (9 days from now), I wanted to take a look at the Kansas City Chiefs own upcoming free agents and try to determine if we should keep them on the team or allow them to pursue their careers elsewhere.

Here is a list of the Chiefs Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA)*

DT Bennie Logan
P Dustin Colquitt
ILB Derrick Johnson
WR Albert Wilson
FB Anthony Sherman
QB Tyler Bray
RB C J Spiller
DE Jarvis Jenkins
DT Stefan Charles
CB Phillip Gaines
OL Jordan Devey
S Steven Terrell
WR De’Anthony Thomas
ILB Kevin Pierre-Louis
CB Terrance Mitchell
OL Zach Fulton
CB Kenneth Acker

Free Agency/List Notes:

*This list was obtained from overthecap.com
CB Darrelle Revis is on their list, but since he has already been released, I omitted him here.
It has been stated that Derrick Johnson’s contract will be allowed to void, but since he is still currently a Chief, I included him here, even though we know he will not be returning.
An UFA is a player who’s contract is about to expire with their current team.
Once the free agency period begins at the beginning of the new League Year (March 14), these players are free to sign with any team they choose.
Since an UFA is a member of their current team, they can resign with that team at any time.

Players I do not think should be on the Chiefs 2018 roster:

Dustin Colquitt: an excellent punter, but soon to be 36-years old, a good place to start to get younger-n-cheaper.

Derrick Johnson: we have been told he will not return as a player for the Chiefs, at 35 years of age and his play in decline, his stellar career as a Chief comes to an end.

Anthony Sherman: a stellar special teams player, he will be 30 years old this year. With the traditional fullback having an almost nonexistent role in HC Andy Reid’s offense, this is another case of getting younger and cheaper.

Tyler Bray: signed as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) in 2013, Bray has spent two years on injured reserve (IR). In 5 years as a Chief, Bray has attempted 1 (incomplete) pass during the regular season. His ceiling is so low, it’s time to look for a better backup QB.

C J Spiller: was signed and released so many times in 2017, I lost track. As a Chief, he had 2 rushing attempts for 0 yards. He will be 31 years old at the start of the 2018 season. There is no upside here.

Phillip Gaines: drafted in the 3rd round in 2014, his play has been disappointing and he has been injured often. We need an upgrade to our defensive backfield.

Stefan Charles: was signed to the team in early January, just prior to our playoff game. His contract details are sketchy at best, but it looks as if we will move on.

Jordan Devey: at 30 years of age and with 7 offensive linemen ahead of him on the depth chart, this is a perfect position to get younger and cheaper.

Steven Terrell: a 2013 UDFA, 2017 was his only year as a Chief. He saw very little playing time and at 5 feet 10, we would be better off going with a rookie that has more upside.

De’Anthony Thomas: a 4th round pick in 2014, has only 61 career receptions. A return specialist who’s return duties have been supplanted by Tyreek Hill. Thomas is currently on IR after injuring his leg in week 17.

Zach Fulton: taken in the 6th round of the 2014 draft by the Chiefs, Zach Fulton started every game during his rookie year at Right Guard, but has been relegated to a reserve role ever since. I believe Fulton should be allowed to find more stability with another team than what the Chiefs will be able to offer. Besides, he’ll likely sing a contract worth more than what the Chief are willing to give him.

Kenneth Acker: acquired in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, Acker’s play has left something to be desired. Similar to Gaines, CB’s need upgraded.

Bring Them Back Conditionally: A Look at the Rest

Bennie Logan: statistically, Logan had a pretty decent year: 35 tackles, 1.5 sacks while only being asked to play in 52% of the Chiefs defensive snaps. He was signed in 2017 to a 1-year $8M “prove-it” contract, but he would have to agree to a substantial pay cut for me to bring him back as a Chief.

Albert Wilson: most fans have had a love/hate relationship with Wilson, but he’s produced in the right situations. I would allow him to test free agency and offer to bring him back if he finds potential suiters lacking.

Jarvis Jenkins: soon to be 30, I originally had Jenkins on the do not return list, but with our shortage of DL and if he is willing to resign for league minimum, I would bring him back until a younger and/or better player can be found.

Kevin Pierre-Louis: drafted in the 4th round in 2014, this past year was his first season as a K.C. Chief since being traded from the Seattle Seahawks for DJ Alexander. Although Pierre-Louis played well, I don’t think he is the long term replacement for Derrick Johnson. Similar to Albert Wilson, I would let him see what free agency has to offer, but be willing to bring him back at the right cost.

Terrance Mitchell: A 2014, 7th round draft pick, Mitchell was the best of the long list of RCB’s the Chiefs played last year. I don’t see him as a starter, but I would want to resign him as a reserve corner if the price is right.

Restricted Free Agents (RFA): The Chiefs Have Two

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
ILB Ramik Wilson

Free Agency (RFA) Notes:

A RFA is a player with three accrued seasons and an expiring contract.
Each team has some control over what happens in free agency by placing one of various tender options on their RFAs.
A RFA, receiving a tender from his original team, can negotiate and sign an offer sheet from another team.
The players original team has the option of matching the offer, or if they choose not to, in most cases will receive compensation from the other team.

The different RFA options are as follows:

Option A- 1st Round Tender: the original team receives a 1st round draft pick in compensation if their RFA signs an offer sheet from another team that they are unwilling to match.

Option B- 2nd Round Tender: the original team receives a 2nd round draft pick in compensation if their RFA signs an offer sheet from another team that they are unwilling to match.

Option C- Original Round Tender: Similar to the other two, the compensation for this tender is a draft pick equal to the round the RFA was drafted.

Option D- Right of First Refusal: with this option, if a teams RFA signs an offer sheet from another team that the original teams chooses not to match, the original team does not receive any compensation.

Other than compensation, the difference between options is dollars and therefore, cap hit. Tender values for 2018 are not yet available (that I can find). Here are the 2017 values:

1st Round Tender: $3.91 million
2nd Round Tender: $2.746 million
Original Round and Low Tender: $1.797 million

The situation with the Chiefs Two RFAs:

Rakeem Nunez-Roches: Drafted in the 6th round in 2015, RNR has steadily improved over his short career. He played 392 defensive snaps in 2017, 4th most of our DL. I would place an original round tender on him, if he were to receive an offer from another team the Chiefs would not be willing to match, we would receive a 6th round pick in next years draft as compensation.

Note: If the Chiefs plan is to cut Allen Bailey to save cap space, I would make this a 2nd round tender.

Ramik Wilson: A 2015 fourth round draft pick, Wilson has been on a roller coaster in his short career, from starting several games to being cut and brought back to start some more. Although all eyes were on Patrick Mahomes in week 17, Wilson led the team with 8 tackles versus Denver in a starting role. With our current shortage ofILBs on the team I would place an original round tender on Wilson.

Note: The Chiefs coaching staff do not seem to be enamored with Wilson. Even though I would offer a tender, it would surprise me if the Chiefs do.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFA): The Last Two

ILB Terrance Smith
CB Keith Baxter

An ERFA is a player with 1 or 2 accrued seasons, normally an undrafted free agent. If a tender is applied to an ERFA (usually at a league minimum salary), they cannot negotiate with another team. Their original team has the exclusive rights to their services.

This basically comes down to a yes or no question; is this a player we want to bring to training camp?

Terrance Smith: Playing only 65 defensive snaps, Smith finished the season with 11 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception. However, Smith played 304 snaps on special teams. This is an easy yes.

Keith Baxter: After injuring his wrist in practice in early August last year, Baxter was placed on waivers. The Chiefs might consider taking another look at him in camp this year.

Are there players on these lists that your interested in keeping?

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