Who Might the Chiefs Pursue Among Remaining Free Agents? – Adding a player who is not a top Free Agent is probably the route the Chiefs will look at but this is a very tough to even consider. A costly player is not in the cards as much as we might wish. Veach has already sifted through the potential free agents and signed many of the Chief’s own.
Still outstanding are DT Chris Jones (although he’s been designated with the franchise tag) and CB Bashaud Breeland. Though I am pretty sure that the Chiefs are looking at the draft as a predominant source of closing the gaps in the roster, it remains within Veach’s purview to ensure each position has the required player depth to field a team in 2020.
Previous ventures in speculation arrived at articles related to the existing players on the roster. If I were to ask myself, can the Chiefs go to war with the existing players in this or that position group?
I framed an answer in a piece published on Saturday in “Chiefs Draft Analysis: RB, TE, WR, QB and Specialists.“
I began dealing with the offensive line two weeks ago and determined then that there were players on the existing roster who could be fielded and do the basic job. The upcoming season will start afresh. Injuries have been healed. 2019 started out in trouble from the beginning. Players were injured before the season even started. In week 1, every player at 4 positions suffered an injury causing them to miss a game or more, some of them season ending.
Offensive Line
The depth of the Offensive line is “decent.” I have wavered in speculation as to whether or not LDT might be sacrificed due to a $18M+ commitment over the next two seasons. The Chiefs would gain $5M in cap space were he to be traded or released. If LDT were to depart, I think the Chiefs have his replacement on the roster.
Still, my objective was to ensure OL protection for Pat Mahomes. Starting roles are determined at both LOT and ROT with Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. Using the situational loss of LDT, this probably leaves Martinas Rankin as the starter at ROG. Andrew Wylie would return as the LOG and there would be a battle between Austin Reiter and Nick Allegretti for the starting job at Center. Allegretti should ascend in camp 2020, and may become the starting guard at either position. So, that is caveat that might be in play. Depth players that I know are probably assured are already on board and this was also improved with the addition the swinging Mike Remmers, an OT/OG.
Since I believe that the Chiefs should continue to build with youth, a free agent signing beyond that of Remmers should remain a possibility though unlikely. If the right experienced hand were available and fell into Veach’s lap… he would be snapped up in a flash. Otherwise, the potential is to add an experienced hand for OL Depth. I’m listing 3 such players below. Free Agents still available and viable cost wise, and who also fit Veach and the Chiefs use of high level draftees who were not a good fit for their existing team or have good NFL experience. Although there are many other players, I think the Chiefs will draft the right fit who can be a starter now or in the near future.
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Germain Ifedi, 26 – RT, Seahawks: [has signed with the Bears]- Demar Dotson, 34 – RT, Buccaneers: what’s left in the tank? [Bengals interested]
Daryl Williams, 28 – OT, Panthers: [has signed with the Bills]- Jason Peters, 38 – LT, Eagles: same tank question.
- Cordy Glenn, 30 – OT, Bengals: was a top OT, risky now with injuries.
- Ron Leary, 29 – OG, Bengals:
Cornerbacks
We all know the status of the players on hand for this room. At present, there are four possible plays on the roster: Ward, Fenton, Lammons with Hamilton having bee added. Here are some considerations still available from the more than 50 Free Agent CB’s available:
- Logan Ryan, 29 – CB, Titans
- Prince Amukamara, 31 – CB, Bears: outside CB, has been a starter.
- Darqueze Dennard – 26 – CB, Bengals: Dennard was originally a 1st round draft pick that has not lived up to the billing. He was invited to KC last year. A potential staring outside corner but certainly would be a good addition to the group as an experienced hand. As the Free Agent period extends, the price tag will come down — he had been thought to have signed a 3 year $13M+ deal with the Jaguars but the contract was withdrawn apparently. This is the type of Free Agent that Veach is known to seek out.
Turn of events: #Jaguars announce CB Darqueze Dennard will not be signing as the two sides could not finalize an agreement. Dennard is back on the open market.
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) March 26, 2020
Bashaud Breeland, 28 – CB, KC: will the Chiefs afford the outside CB? I do like Breeland and would like him to remain a Chief. His price tag has probably dropped as time passed though. I am sure he was looking for Kendall Fuller type money. The Redskins opted to pass on Breeland which bodes well for the Chiefs being able to retain him. Wait and see but it does not appear that he is going to get a big bucks offer such as that of Fuller. We’ll see.
Trumaine Johnson, 30 – CB, Jets: another potential player; last 2 years have been unkind but he has been a starter and again, change of scenery might prove worth bringing to the Kingdom).
P.J. Williams, 27 – CB, Saints: Williams has pieced together a decent career as a depth player who is versatile. That fits the Spagnuolo CB profile.
Daryl Worley, 25 – CB, Raiders: Worley is probably a depth CB but the thing is he is only 25.
Brandon Carr, 33, CB, Ravens: ex-Chiefs who could return to K.C..
.
Linebackers
The Chiefs LInebacker position is a terribly problematic position in terms of getting the right fit. The Chiefs have: Damien Wilson, Anthony Hitchens, Dorian O’Daniel, and Darius Harris. The Chiefs can field a team with this group but there is no true playmaker, or even a 3-down LB among the group players. Consequently, I’ve observed this to be a #1 draft need. Looking at the numerous players who could fill a role-playing position in this group, besides a top draft pick, I am sure that Veach will have on hand, invitations delivered by owl, to UDFAs for camp.
As far as Free Agency is concerned, it is my view that the potential signees could be role players but, there is not a player that I would try to sign who would fit a role as a starter. It appears to me that the Chiefs must depend on the draft. Below is an example of a Free Agent role-playing LB:
Jake Ryan, 28 – LB, Jags: Ryan played for a team with a very good defense. He could fill in well inside but he is not a Sideline-to-Sideline LB. He was a role player in Jacksonville, and would be in KC.
That rounds out my look at the top 3 priority positions of need for KC. It appears to me that LB and CB position weaknesses determine the the likely picks for all three positions to the top 3 draft choices.
David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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