League New Year: What Fortune Brings is a Question

David Bell

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I Have Nothing New to Report so…

First Things First

After the Mahomes Extension, the Chiefs Cap is no longer in the red! (numbers from Overthecap.com)

Total Cap Liabilities: $249,418,526

• Top 51: $230,062,275
• Team Cap Space: $15,322,361

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How Brett Veach & Co. utilize the cap space is the abiding question for the first day of the new league year and the first official day of Free Agency. There was no New News Today!

The L’Jarius Sneed Factor

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Sneed – Chiefs Photo credit

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Here it is in black and white:

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Adapted from over the cap.com

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As much as I value Sneed, that’s a ton of money for a CB. They must work an extended contract, or Sneed will depart the greater environs of the Kingdom. Several teams are interested in trading for Sneed. At a minimum, I cannot see letting him go without due compensation, which I view as at least a round 2 draft pick plus a late-round pick as well… probably.

The Chiefs are in a pickle with roles that need to be filled with a free agent signing and the draft. I see those needs as WR(Free Agent and the draft), LOT(Free Agent and the draft), DT(draft), and a CB(draft). If the Chiefs trade Sneed, the added draft pick will be a huge factor in the upcoming draft. I still anticipate LJ leaving in free agency.

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Preface: Already Done

Jones – Forbes Magazine image credit

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1. Chris Jones was signed to a 5-year contract. First-Year Cap Hit $7.5M
2. L’Jarius Sneed was tagged (non-exclusive) $19.8M – Sneed’s contract could be worked into a long-term multi-year contract
3. LB Drue Tranquill signed a 3-year, $19M contract
4. The TE Room has been strengthened with the signing of former Bengals/Vikings TE Irv SmithJr.
5. P Matt Araiza signed
6. Tyree Gillespie (S) signed
7. P Townsend was released to F/A and signed by the Texans
8. LS James Winchester signed a 1-yr contract
9. Deon Bush (S) re-signed by the Chiefs
10. MVS WR was released – KC going in a different direction with WR Room. Thankfully!
11. The Chiefs addressed the DT group by signing Mike Pennel
12. The Chiefs had previously strengthened the DT Group by Signing Isaiah Buggs

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Mike Pennel – Ben Green Photo

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What Does This All Mean?

Here are the things I am pretty sure about

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• the Chiefs would like to retain Sneed, but the money situation is preventative
• they are comfortable with the DT group
• a decision was made to retain LB Drue Tranquill and allow LB Willie Gay to depart in F/A
• we don’t know how KC will address the WR woes of 2023… yet… but I anticipate a F/A plus a higher draft pick. The position group was broken in 2023, but it will be fixed in 2024
• we don’t yet know how Brett Veach will address the LOT weakness

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The resulting top needs list is WR, OT and CB. I see a lesser need as being “Finding a F/A RB.” From all the big-name RBs who are still available, I don’t see a tender for any of them. The Chiefs do need a change-of-pace RB like the skillful Jerick McKinnon provided. For example, they do have La’Mical Perine, but I can see McKinnon returning on a team-friendly deal.

I do not see Clyde Edwards-Helaire being tendered.

Other Areas to Be Addressed?

Nick Allegretti is gone, departed in Free Agency to the Commanders. He is getting a deserved starting gig, for three-years and $16M. The Chiefs need to backfill his versatility: both OG roles and Center. That most likely depends on two players, one for OG and one for C. Mike Caliendo will back up Thuney on the left side. I don’t think it is a reach to think he can back up the ROG role as well. The #2 Center is a question with no one slotted for the role currently, save Austin Reiter. I suppose that he would suffice. Reiter was been a starter at C for the Chiefs in 2021.

Bringing back Big Mike Pennel at DT, along with Isaiah Buggs, the DT Role is covered. When Charles Omenihu gets back, versatility at DE/DT improves. I am looking at a late October/Early November re-emergence for Omenihu. Depth for the Edge role remains a question. Karlaftis and FAQ are the players to be counted on. Mike Danna is likely to depart in free agency.

Because I still anticipate that star CB L’Jarius Sneed will leave in free agency, the Chiefs will likely draft a CB in the process while gaining an extra second-round draft pick.

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David Bell — ArrowheadOne

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