Chiefs: The Case for Signing Two Veteran Free Agents(Shifted View On the Fly!)

I have seen much-written forecasting doom and gloom for the 2022 Version of the Kansas City Chiefs. Things are so bad they won’t win 11 games. I have seen odd prophecies of glorious wins, arriving at a 15-2 regular season record. My view is the Chiefs will be the Chiefs that they have been. At worse, the final record will be 12-5 or perhaps a win or two more. The 2022 Chiefs have a very capable roster.

The team offense will indeed need to adjust with the Departure of Ty Hill. However, it is also true that last year, our opponents figured a way to prevent Hill and Kelce from winning games by using two safeties and two Cornerbacks to take away the deep ball to Hill and also doubling Kelce at the same time. In this way, defenses took away Patrick Mahomes as a critical threat that could turn the tables and notch another win in the “W” column. This was the case in two key games the Chiefs lost to the Bengals, the second of which saw them lose in Overtime without Patrick Mahomes touching the ball.

First Note: Melvin Ingram – We lost Him

In 2022 defenses will need to make significant adjustments because the Chiefs now have receivers who multiply the threat — who are those teams going to double? The WR crew is deep and doesn’t need review again. Unlike others, I see the format of spreading targets among several WRs to be a more daunting task for defenses to mount successfully. For the purposes of the season’s focus, I want to shift back to the defense and build a case for Brett Veach making two additional free agent signings besides Melvin Ingram, which(is now not going to occur). Late Sunday evening, I found that Mel signed with the Dolphins, and apparently, KC did not try to match the offer. Yes, we get another Comp pick in 2023 and will have 12 picks again next year. But I saw Mel as a solution at DE. That is no longer to be the case. This makes my Free Agent need #2 below far less critical. What it does, is that it raises DE to the second choice, but I have no idea who that might be.

What follows are two suggestions. First, my primary worry about the defense lies in the lack of a pass rush from the IDL to play opposite Chris Jones. A secondary concern is related to the rookie influx in the secondary, so I count it as less than a necessity. It may be that a 3rd Free Agent Signing will become necessary — for an Edge Rusher. I will ponder that over the next couple of days.

Free Agent Proposition #1

The Free Agent that I most wish to see signed to the team would be a DT who can add to the pressure on the pocket. We have DTs who are successful run-defenders, such as Derrick Nnadi and Tershawn Wharton. Meanwhile, Veach added potential depth by signing Taylor Stallworth to the team. Unfortunately, none of these players are pass-rush threats. For this reason, a valuable addition to the roster would be to add a player who could at least provide passing down rush capability.

For two years in a row, I have lobbied publicly to acquire an Interior pass rush DT to play opposite Chris Jones. Laddie Morse feels the same way. Yet, for two sequential drafts, this has been an opportunity left in abeyance.

Chris Jones now has two years left on his contract. We have him for two more seasons, but a new contract will demand considerable monies to retain him from that point on. That is another reason that drafting A DT is a position that I have thought was vitally important.

There are limited choices for the DT role that make sense. To write about one possibility is for me to call attention to Akiem Hicks as my short-term nominee. Veach would not have to sign a 3-down DT at a high cost and could focus on drafting a Pass-rush DT in the 2023 draft. Hicks is indeed a pass rush DT. The downside would be that Hicks is a temporary, one-season option. It would work, though. I propose that Hicks be inserted on passing downs. At 32, Hicks would then provide part of the push from the interior of the Defensive line to harass and sack the opposing QB. Another option that Spags would have is the mix and match DEs into the interior. For example, change things up by moving the Greek Freak inside and playing, but who would be the edge rusher?

What Hicks brings to the mix is an added threat for the pass rush. He would not be a high-cost addition nor a long-term commitment. It could be the acquisition that puts the front four over the top and certainly would be a better addition than Jarran Reed was in 2021. That’s what my aim is. I have to hope that this is Veach’s primary focus as well. Right now, the Chiefs have $14.75M+ in available cap space.

Free Agent Proposition #2 Edge/DE has risen to the need for a Proposition(but I don’t have a player identified)

I was dumbfounded when Veach let Melvin Ingram slide into the nethers-sphere in South Florida. I honestly thought if another team made a pitch, Brett Veach would match it to bring him back to the Kindom. Yeah, I guess I can be pretty dumb. That probably is no surprise to A1 followers. Mark it down in your book: David Bell was bone-headed again.

Last night, Laddie and I were exchanging about this. I know that Brett Veach has a plan. I do not know what it is. Perhaps the Chiefs liked what they saw with Malik Herring in rookie camp(but that was merely a rehab effort). We don’t know the status of Josh Kaindoh either. He flashed a couple of times before being injured in 2021. But we don’t know out here in fandom land. I know that Mike Danna is a good player, but he does not possess pass rush skill — or at least has not shown it in games. The Chiefs signed DE Shilique Calhoun, a 6 yr pro. He is perhaps a depth player, and he is not noted for his pass rush. Calhoun fits the OLB/DE profile, 6’5″, 260 34 OLB type. Yes, we have Austin Edwards, but he is not on my horizon, even as a rotation player. I do not see a roster player who can be counted on to solve the problem and exposure at DE.

So I am adding DE/Edge as the #2 Free Agent need. I want to make it a proposal but have no candidate. But I have no proposed solution at this time. I had no choice but to have the DE position rise to a category of dire need. I don’t have an answer. I hadn’t given it a detailed look because I believed Veach would secure Melvin Ingram. I am non-plussed at the moment. Shut m big mouth. No ideas tonight as I edit this article. None. Nada.

My former #2(CB) is now subverted to F/A Proposition #3~Or Maybe Even Lower!

In fact, I Consider Veach’s trade to acquire CB Lonnie Johnson, a former Texan, to make this option nearly a moot point.

Please observe that I do not believe this is a primary concern anymore. One thing that aids me and keeps me in perspective about this position group was that Brett Veach traded a draft pick to obtain former Texan CB Lonnie Johnson.

That aids the CB group considerably. Our incoming rookies are going to be an effective crew. However, my second free agent that Veach should focus upon is a solid Veteran CB for that level of defense. Such a Free Agent acquisition was probably unnecessary due to Veach trading a draft pick to acquire likely Lonnie Johnson from the Texans. I like this move a lot. He also has familiarity with our newly acquired safety Justin Reid(also from the Texans).

Still, I can see the possibility of such a free Agent Signing being made late, before the beginning of the season.

I am not stating that I lack faith in the young players. That is not the case. I am very high on Trent McDuffie and Washington State’s Jaylen Watson, to mention the two most meaningful. But also, I am curious to see what Joshua Williams (Fayetteville St) does at training camp. He was a 4th round draft pick. The scouting crew stood up and took notice, and Veach drafted him with the 135th Pick.

Adding a Veteran presence would aid the young players and provide veteran experience to mix and match with the existing young talent. for this reason, it might be part of the process to sign James Bradberry. This would be a costly signing but within the realm of affordability. The Chiefs had pursued a trade to obtain Bradberry, but no deal was struck. Bradberry was then released. He is still a valuable commodity, but at this point, I think adding James Bradberry to the roster is moot. Since the goal is to win the Super Bowl, though, I can see him or another veteran CB as a solution, thus solidifying the CB group.

On the other hand, after the draft, the addition of a vet may be unnecessary. If you recall, I hustled and rustled up as much enthusiasm for paying Bradberry to come aboard in the middle of April and before the draft. The draft was solid, and the incoming freshmen’s youth/speed/physical ability may preclude signing a veteran CB. Adding a Veteran could help as Dave Merritt has a slew of Rookies headed his way. Dave Merritt & Co. will need to apply every effort to break the rookies in slowly and not just toss them to the wolves. As noted above, I think Lonnie Johnson will be a good fit for the CB group making any other signing unnecessary.

The rookies would benefit from the leadership of a Veteran as they learn the nuances of the NFL play on the fly. The team lost by subtraction when Charvarius Ward reaped the benefit of his solid play, taking the money that was rightfully due him in the process — but it was to another team.

Brett Veach may have already acquired enough talent for solid pass defense, and I am not discounting our rookies. Trent McDuffie will be a solid player and a starter out of the gate. Jaylen Watson will, I believe, emerge quickly to gain a significant number of snaps, so it seems that along with Sneed, McDuffie, Johnson, Baker, and Rashad Fenton, the CB group will be vital. My side note to this is that I believe that Joshua Williams(Fayetteville St) will prove to be a stroke of genius down the road.

Unlike others, Deandre Baker still fits the Chiefs CB profile. In 2021 he was spotted in and made a significant PD before a freaky injury took him out for the season. Veach signed 2nd-year DB Luq Barcoo, who had 3 NFL games under his belt in 2021. He was a starter in one of those three games.

I had added CB as a free agent to sign due to youth and inexperience as a possibility. Also, I have noted that having Lonnie Johnson in the mix alleviates the concern. Finally, I note that this signing is secondary in essential to acquiring the pass rush DT and now a DE. mentioned, I will have to rethink the Edge–again. Altered the thinking on the fly! Good night, good grief!

Nonplussed, dumbfounded – David Bell – ArrowheadOne