In Phase one of Free Agency, Brett Veach surprised us with two significant signings by adding Justin Reid(Former Texan Safety), and JuJu Smith-Schuster(Former Steeler WR). Each of those player acquisitions resolved immediate exposures that existed on the Roster. I was in favor of both players being added and the “To-Do List” that I maintain had check-marks on two entries and the worklist was reduced.
Next Up? Phase 2 of Free Agency, Contract Restructuring, and Player Re-signings & Preparing the Draft Board for 2022
This phase is where Brett Veach and Co have excelled in the past. Kansas City Chiefs GM still has much work to accomplish. How he goes about that will likely adhere to these 3 linked Principles:
- Do not break the bank getting done what needs to be done before the draft–Stay with your Blueprint
- Sign existing Chiefs Free Agents that solve problems and fence off exposures
- Build from the draft as much as possible — immediate starters and immediate contributors from the draft are crucial. Continue with the theme of getting younger, faster, stronger and add players with Terez Paylor’s “Juice Qualifier”
Brett Veach Already Explained the Blue Print for the 2022 Off-season
The BluePrint is just Brett Veach’s Brain — it’s the brain trust, which is his staff, the Chief’s financial wizards of the front office, the scouting crew, Andy Reid, and the coaching staff all burning the midnight oil and traveling to distant places to look at and evaluate players at the various Pro Days. Not only that, but they have a Big board that is constantly evaluated and re-organize based on the immediacy of what is going on, as the Chiefs approach the draft. Part of this is the mix of the players on the roster as well. Brett Veach orchestrates.
Brett Veach told us how he would proceed in the post-season. To questions about what was planned in a Presser, Brett Veach told us:
“I think our first line of business is to finalize where we are with our guys and our staff.
Whether it’s the new contracts, the restructuring, the re-signings, guys moving on, trading. Once
we finalize and stabilize what we have, it’s just a matter of filling in the holes, and then it
comes down to what makes sense from a financial term and a commitment term and marrying that with
what we think is available in the draft.”
Surprisingly, Brett Veach signed two players in Phase One, AKA Free Agent Frenzy
As it became clear that Tyrann Mathieu would not be tender, Brett Veach made a very good move bringing aboard an Ascending Player, the former Texan Safety Justin Reid. This immediately resolved the exposure of losing Tyrann.
Brett’s second move was to sign aboard their new #2 WR, JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Steelers receiver Veach had pursued in 2021. Then on Sunday, he signed Texan OT Geron Christian. Christian had earned a starting role with the WFT but was injured and released. He was picked up by the Texans and played well in 2021.
Still, I regard this addition as insurance for preventing the OL Group from taking a step backward. He played LOT for the Texans and started 8 games. Geron was questionably for the WFT a “Bust” and according to my younger brother, Steven, who is refraining from watching the NFL since his team has been down the past few seasons and he cannot see Chiefs games regularly. Steve has lived in the DC environs for 20 years. Steve indicated he wasn’t a draft bust but he did suffer two injuries which is why Washington released him to Free Agency in 2020. At Washington, Christian also played the OT role for Washington.
I viewed a small sampling of film and I think this was a very economical solution to the depth for the offensive line. He could be considered a starter. Before that, Veach had re-signed Andrew Wylie who was a good depth player in 2021, taking over for Lucas Niang when he suffered the torn patellar tendon in 2021.
Re-signing Wylie is an indicator for the Chiefs – Essentially a rookie in 2021, Lucas Niang was knocked to the IR late in 2021. It appears that he will not be ready for opening day. I do know that the Chiefs have a very favorable view of Niang but signing both Andrew Wylie and Geron Christian indicates that such is the case.
Garnering both Wylie and Christian assuaged my worry.
Phase Two of Free Agency now Begins
A less frenetic period of Free Agency begins in the second week. This is where Brett Veach & Co. has excelled in prior off-seasons. Fans, pundits, observers, and analysts are filling the NFL football world, with various pronouncements and predictions. That affects me as well but at the same time, as Shawn Sorter wrote for Sunday’s article at ArrowheadOne, “Relax”. See that article, here: https://arrowheadone.com/relax/
One of our major followers, “Bert” suggested the article should have had an Alfred E. Newman image: “What? Me Worry? So here it is.
Questions That Immediately Came Into Focus Along With Potential Answers
Blended with considering Free Agents, must be accompanied by providing money to the cap to make acquisitions and still pay for the players that the Chiefs will draft in 2022 and have the necessary capital buffer for the season.
- Cap Space Answers are obvious – Complete restructuring some Veteran Salaries to Build up cap funds
- Complete the long-term agreement with LOT Orlando Brown, Jr.
- Complete the Tyreek Hill Contract Restructure
- Restructure Patrick Mahomes Contract
- Consider other Veterans Who can have contracts restructured to benefit Cap Space.
- From the Veach draft board and planning board, establish the plan for the draft
- Consider Phase 2 free Agents who are solutions to the exposure list while maintaining the age, speed, ascending profile
Veach Metrics (Adapted from another ArrowheadOne frequent poster and follower(Merlin)
1] Adding an older player, such as Melvin Ingram must be an addition for a current exposure. No long-term contracts for older players. When Mel Ingram joined the field in 2021, it had an important impact on the team defense… Suddenly they were playing with increased vigor. Ingram is just one suggestion but the Chiefs need to bring aboard a solid veteran whose pass rush impact is immediately a factor for every game.
2] Sign older vets at discount and/or prove it type deal. Such players should not displace snaps from progressing younger players.
3] Only Add Older Players with shorter-term contracts that make sense.
4]. If in Free Agency, sign younger, faster, more aggressive, and physical players.
Where are the Chiefs Position Exposures
o – Veteran Cornerback: Add back a veteran Cornerback to replace the experienced presence that Charvarius Ward’s Departure exposed; the player needs to be one of the rotation of Cornerbacks who can also mentor young newcomers
o – Edge Pass Rusher: Sign a Veteran Edge Pass Rush — This can be a short-term solution(I have suggested Mel Ingram as one possibility); The added player must have an impact and be a mature leader who can also help mentor young players like Josh Kaindoh or a draft pick in 2022.
o – DT Free agent with a full set of skills: If one is available, that must be a consideration (a solid 3-down player) – If not possible, then hire back a Chiefs Free Agent like Derek Nnadi and use a high draft pick for the DT position who is a 3-down compliment to Chris Jones. That is likely to be a round one or round 2 draft pick.
o ROT – Find a Free Agent ROT who fits the scheme — We don’t know how long it will take Lucas Niang to return to football form; I think this needs to be a player capable of starting. The Chiefs re-signed Andrew Wylie(a wise move). If Veach can find another young Offensive Lineman who fits the scenario, the Chief’s persona, and can fulfill an impact role, this is what Brett Veach should be seeking. It could be an older Vet on a 1-year contract.
No sooner had I saved the rough draft for this article on Sunday which will publish on Monday, than “Something Happened”.
Thus I have updated the article on the fly and added:
The Chiefs signed an experience OT, another former Texan. Brett Veach has signed former Texan OT, Geron Christian, Jr. per @AaronWilson_NFL. Garon also played inside for Houston.
I feel far more comfortable about the offensive line due to the unknown rehab situation for Lucas Niang and needing a starter quality player to either start or be the Swing Tackle. Geron fills that bill. I would go so far as to position him as the Starter at ROT with Andrew Wylie being the SW/T. Christian can also play LOT. He is big enough and tall enough to play outside on the Front 5.
We don’t yet know the terms of the contract. Geron Christian, Jr. 25-year-old OG for the Texans is 6’6″, weighing in at 315 pounds. His Salary under Dave Cully last year was $920,000. He has played in 34 games and started 13. Christian was drafted in the 3rd Round(74th pick), a Louisville product of the 2018 draft by Washington. He became a Starting OG with the Redskins, but the 2020 season was prematurely ended when he suffered an injury, forcing him to miss the final 3 games. In 2018, he was rated as the 10th best OG in the draft by Sports Illustrated. Due to that, Geron was released to Free Agency by Washington and signed a contract with Texans for 2021. As you can see, he is versatile for the offensive line and played the LOT position when deployed for the role, so Geron has some versatility.
This is a good, economical signing by Brett Veach who had already re-signed OT/OG Andrew Wylie. For the Texans, Geron played OG, started the last 8 games of the season but also lined up as LOT. I watched a bit of film on him and he has matured over the past 3 seasons. Geron displays balance and good footwork in pass protection from what I see. Go here to see him at LOT in a tweet by BryanStewart with a tidbit of Christian for the Texans: https://twitter.com/BryanStewart_/status/1505610061246345216
Adding Geron probably means that the Chiefs know that Lucas Niang will not be available for the start of the 2022 season and at this point, I would spot Andrew Wylie as the designated ROT but Christian is the better pass blocker over Wylie. Either could be SW/T and Geron has started on the left side for the Texans. This would give the Chiefs Offensive Line Depth of Nick Allegretti, Tega Wanogho, Wylie, and Christian–if you look at Niang returning to the starter role when he is back from the injury.
o Ensure that the OL does not regress – Starters at this point are Orlando Brown, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and either Wylie or Christian at ROT. Nick Allegretti, Andrew Wylie, and Geron Christian are all versatile and can be plugged in for multiple positions. That’s as good a situation as existed in 2021. The OL stays young and the older vets that we tried to use in 2021 are not part of that picture. I think this item can be checked off the Veach “To-do List”.
o Build up the Running Back group – That could be as simple as re-signing Darrel Williams. It might also be a draft pick. They must be capable receivers out of the backfield.
o The “any position” Future Foundation Player – Continue the theme of getting younger, stronger, talented who can add to the Chief’s foundation player list. When you find the right player who can start at a position while continuing to make developmental progress–get them signed if identified and pursuable.
o Clear from the Roster players who have not progressed – If the player doesn’t have the promise fulfilled after a couple of seasons in the organization, cut the dead weight and go forward. The Chiefs do have such players. There are currently 67 players are on the Roster.
What Are Remaining Exposure Positions
Draft Starter quality players—Use the first five draft picks from among these positions specifically but BPA at the same time: DE, DT, CB, ILB, WR, OL(Order is not meaningful but the first three positions are more crucial. These are the primary positions of focus, with RB, and TE to be considered later in the draft. We won’t know how this works out because the draft is still more than one month in the future. We’ll see what else Mr. Veach has up his sleeve.
In a previous article, major areas of focus were identified as the DL and the Secondary, and WR. Signing WR JuJu Smith-Schuster covers the need for a WR #2. Since the Chiefs could not come to terms with Tyrann Mathieu, his pending departure was covered by signing S Justin Reid. here are the exposures remaining:
- Safties Armani Watts and Daniel Sorensen – No signing and replacement have yet to be identified.
- DE Melvin Ingram – No signing or replacement has been identified.
- WR Demarcus Robinson & WR Byron Pringle – I expect existing players will replace these two WRs but who that will remain unidentified.
- Linebackers Dorian O’Daniel and Ben Niemann--Not signed and no replacements identified.
- OL – The depth for the offensive line needs to be rebuilt. Older Vets are not re-signed. Andrew Wylie was signed to a 1-year contract and will ostensibly be the starting ROT since it does not appear that Lucas Niang will be ready for the start of the season. another part of the solution for the OL was signing Texan F/A OG/OT Geron Christian above.
- Cornerbacks Mike Hughes, and an anticipated major contributor for 2022 Chris Lammons – No replacements identified. Lammons was an ERFA but has legal problems & won’t return to the Chiefs.
Week Two of Free Agency begins. Sit back and let’s see what Brett Veach and Co. come up with! At ArrowheadOne we are among the WTiV crowd.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne