Kansas City Chiefs should look into Brandon Brooks
Although the Kansas City Chiefs don’t need to drastically overpay someone in an act of sheer desperation, it would be wise for them to sign an offensive lineman in free agency this offseason. Preferably, they would sign someone under the age of 30 who doesn’t have an extensive injury history, which seems to be a red flag in the eyes of the Chiefs based on past personnel decisions on the line, but they could be impeded by cap considerations.
There’s no doubt that the Kansas City Chiefs must find a way to keep guard Jeff Allen, who is one of the strongest and most underrated players at the position. However, it would be wise for them to pursue another upgrade, whether it’s at left guard or right tackle. Veteran guard Ben Grubbs is a likely cut candidate, and the need for a guard only increases if the Chiefs can’t find a way to keep Allen.
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The Chiefs will have options at guard in free agency, and the sexiest pick is Baltimore Ravens superstar blocker Kelechi Osemele, who helped form one of the NFL’s best guard duos with Marshal Yanda over the past couple of seasons. He also upped his value big-time by holding his own at left tackle last season, meaning that he should be safely out of the Chiefs price range.
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It would be more prudent for the Chiefs to sign someone a bit cheaper, and while Houston Texans guard Brandon Brooks wouldn’t exactly be out of the bargain bin, he’s an excellent option at a more palatable price.
There’s no guarantee that Brooks will be available, because ESPN NFL Nation’s Tania Ganguli reported that the Texans are making him a priority this offseason. As they should. The caveat with this report is that the message comes from Brooks’s agent Joe Panos, but I can’t come up with a reason why he would lie about this.
Even though the Texans are doing whatever they can to keep Brooks off of the free agent market, I have a feeling he will find a way to slip into the waters and test his value. Teams like the Chiefs should have plenty of interest in a player who will be just 27 when the season opens up, meaning that he could safely play out a five-year deal that has a reasonable “in case he fails” cushion built in.
Ever since breaking out in 2014, Brooks has been one of the NFL’s better guards and a key part of the Texans offense. The Chiefs would welcome the stability he brings to the table, particularly in the passing game. Alex Smith has the accuracy, decision-making chops, running ability, and quick release to succeed behind a shaky offensive line, but the biggest passing game benefit of having better blockers is that the receivers will have more time to get open downfield. That could be important for the Chiefs, especially if we see more of the ridiculously athletic Chris Conley in his second season.
Jamaal Charles deserves improved blocking up front, and while he can succeed in just about any situation, the Chiefs will want to make sure he goes off. Signing Brooks will shore up one guard position for years to come, and he’s the type of player who won’t miss chunks of games with injury.
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Brooks brings the type of reliability, athleticism, youth, and passing blocking that Kansas City should covet in free agency, but the problem is that there will be plenty of competition for his services if he doesn’t stay in Houston. Even though Brooks could be priced out of the Chiefs pockets, though less so than Osemele, John Dorsey and Co. should at least look into him as one of their best options at any position this offseason. I mean, with the money they would save by releasing Grubbs, Brooks is a worthy upgrade who would most likely be a big long-term help for the Chiefs offense.