Kansas City Chiefs: Free Agency Has Been Very Quiet, As Expected
By Andrew Jones
Nearly a week into 2017 NFL free agency and the Kansas City Chiefs have been expectedly quiet, but here’s what little they’ve done and what may still come.
The Kansas City Chiefs made their big splashes the week before the start of 2017 NFL free agency, locking up free safety Eric Berry and guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. Those moves ate up a ton of cap space, so they released oft-injured star Jamaal Charles and backup quarterback Nick Foles. Still pressured under the cap, there were a few more guys they felt needed to stay in Kansas City.
The Chiefs tendered original round options on restricted free agents Daniel Sorensen and Cairo Santos. A few days later, Sorensen signed a contract extension. As for Santos, there hasn’t been much interest in the third-year kicker out of Tulane, so the Chiefs can take their time negotiating a new deal.
The overarching theme is that the Chiefs believe they can win the Super Bowl with the guys they have. They don’t see any glaring holes on their roster. Even if there are holes, there are few enough that the draft should mask them, if not plug them with long term solutions. The Chiefs also have a solid history of finding good contributors from other teams’ cast offs in August.
When combined with a very complete roster these methods bode for a much larger championship window than flashy free agent signings. That being said, one or two pickups will still be a priority.
Take the signing of Bennie Logan. The defensive tackle helped solidify the Philadelphia Eagles run defense to the tune of 90.7 yards per game when active. That number climbed to 141.0 yards per game when he was not. That is a huge difference, even for a defensive tackle. This signing comes with the expected departure of Dontari Poe. Poe has been a fan favorite in Kansas City with his running, catching, and even passing abilities. Injuries and lack of run defense have led the team to make a token effort at re-signing him.
There have been reports that Logan’s contract is only one year, but for big money. The cash-strapped Chiefs may have to release another player to make room if true. That could change where they go in the first two rounds of the draft.
Next: Early 2017 Free Agency Grades for Each Team
On one hand, it gives fans hope that a high pick will be used on a quarterback. The Chiefs need a backup behind Alex Smith and that player needs to be the future of the franchise. On the other hand, the Chiefs could still be in play for Tony Romo. Romo may soon be released, and several writers still think his future is with Kansas City. However small that chance is, it may be all there is to talk about until April.