Kansas City Chiefs Should Target WR Greg Jennings

On Saturday, the Minnesota Vikings released 31-year-old wide receiver Greg Jennings, one day after trading for Mike Wallace from the Miami Dolphins. Jennings struggled in his two seasons with the Vikings, and the team decided to release him just two years in to a five year, $45 million deal.

Last season in Minnesota, Jennings hauled in 59 receptions (on 92 targets) for 742 yards and six touchdowns. He is no longer the sure-fire number one option that he was with the Green Bay Packers, but Jennings still provides plenty of value as a solid veteran option as a number two or three receiver.

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Despite the recent signing of Jeremy Maclin, a move that will do wonders on their receiving core, the Kansas City Chiefs should still be strongly involved in the wide receiver market. Jennings is a receiver who should really entice the Chiefs.

Maclin legitimizes the Chiefs’ receiving core as a strong number one option, but the team has little else at the position besides him. Guys like Albert Wilson, Da’Rick Rogers, Junior Hemmingway and Jason Avant have shown some upside, but none of them have proven much in the NFL.

The Chiefs could use a strong veteran presence to help Maclin solidify the receiving core. With not much cap room available, Jennings seems like a solid option who will come at a low cost.

Jennings is a strong possession receiver who has always been productive in the red zone. The veteran receiver has 63 career scores. After the Chiefs did not throw a single touchdown pass to the wide receiver position last season, Jennings’ knack for catching balls in the end zone would be very welcomed in Kansas City.

Jennings would bring the Chiefs a solid and reliable option to line up across from Maclin, with the ability to play in the slot as well. On top of that, Jennings is clearly in the twilight of his career, so if somebody like Wilson or Rogers were to breakout, Jennings would be an easy candidate to step back and let the young guy make a name for himself.

The interest in Jennings on the market appears to be shaky at best. He is expected to have to settle for a one-year deal for little money. The Chiefs have made some nice improvements to their team via free agency this off-season, resulting in a lot of money being spent. Because of this, they simply do not have much room under the cap remaining, but there is still a need for a veteran presence at the wide receiver position. This makes Jennings a logical choice for them to essentially pick up off of the scrap heap.

Landing Jennings should not be the only move that the Chiefs are looking to do at the wide receiver position. While he represents plenty of risk, free agent Michael Crabtree still makes plenty of sense for the Chiefs, as do other free agent options Stevie Johnson, Hakeem Nicks and Nate Washington.

Even more important than adding a veteran option like Jennings in free agency, the Chiefs must add a potential impact wide receiver in the 2015 NFL Draft. After signing Maclin, selecting a WR in the first round may not be essential, but the Chiefs must address the position eventually.

The talented and incredibly productive Justin Hardy is one of many wide receivers the Chiefs should consider in the middle and late stages of the 2015 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

They have already been strongly connected to Justin Hardy, a talented wide receiver out of ECU, and guys like Nelson Agholor, Rashad Greene, Tre McBride, Tyler Lockett, Stefon Diggs, Josh Harper and Titus Davis are all mid-to-late round WR prospects who make plenty of sense for Kansas City.

Adding Jennings would certainly not be a power move to vault the Chiefs to the top of the AFC, but he is a solid receiver, with very consistent hands, who has been around the block a time or two. Jennings would help solidify a Chiefs’ receiving core that currently needs a lot of help, and probably for a very reasonable price.

Next: Complete Chiefs' Seven-Round Mock Draft

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