The Kansas City Chiefs weren’t healthy in Super Bowl LV. That, as well as many other factors, cost them a chance to complete their run it back tour. It’s not as simple as once the Chiefs are healthy they will be able to get back to and win next year’s Super Bowl. First off, Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher may not be back in time, may not be back to their level of play, or may not be back at all.
Also, this notion the Chiefs have all these weapons on offense is simply not true. We have two of the best weapons in the National Football League, but after that there is a vast and considerable drop off in talent. Is Sammy Watkins a good player? Yes. Is Mecole Hardman fast? Yes. Are they two players you can depend on? Absolutely not! The Chiefs have a lot of work to do this off-season with a lengthy list of their own free agents leaving and a sudden and stark realization that they need to improve this roster more than anyone thought or wanted to admit. So, with that said, let’s take a look at what the Chiefs need to do in free agency to improve and stay on top.
Chiefs’ Gear 20% OFF w/ Promo Code: kansascity20
Chiefs’ Free Agents (2021)
I’ll be back!
CB Bashaud Breeland – a consistent veteran presence who has been here and can lead our young guys in L’Jarius Sneed and Rashad Fenton.
DT Mike Pennel – Our big man in the middle that helps us the most in stuffing the run or at least giving us a chance.
RB Darrel Williams – Just a smart, tough and always in the right spot player who helps in pass protection and is at the very least a high quality rotation RB, even if he’s our 3rd guy.
LG Kelechi Osemele – He was playing well before his injury and would be a nice piece to at least compete at guard with whomever else we add this off-season.
You can’t handle the truth!
WR’s Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, & Byron Pringle – For the longest time Sammy Watkins seemed worth coming back on team friendly deals, but after this season it’s time for both parties to move on. Sammy just cannot stay healthy and didn’t perform in the Super Bowl. He cannot be counted on and the Chiefs can’t afford to keep going into playoff games with the Demarcus Robinson’s and Byron Pringle’s of the world.
CB Charvarius Ward – Charvarius should be a hero sending the Chiefs to Super Bowl LIII, but Dee Ford put a stop to that. Charvarius is a decent corner, but will probably be looking for a big payday and his play has fallen off as of late. He was roasted in that loss to the Raiders.
S Daniel Sorenson – He came up with some big plays here and there which was nice, but 95% of the time he was a liability and out of position.
LB’s Ben Niemann & Damien Wilson – Ben Niemann is such a liability out there on the field that he cannot return. Damien wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t good either and the money just wasn’t worth the production or lack thereof.
DE’s Alex Okafor & Tanoh Kpassagnon – We could have had Alvin Kamara, but Tanoh was our guy and that raw talent never got cooked. Okay, now I’m sad. Alex Okafor didn’t pan out either. We should have kept Emmanuel Ogbah and somehow found a way to pawn Alex off on an unsuspecting foe.
C Austin Reiter – If Austin wants to come back for cheap and be a backup then maybe he has a spot on the roster.
RG Andrew Wylie – If Andrew is okay being a backup and signing a cheap deal he wouldn’t be bad for depth.
RB Le’Veon Bell – LeSean McCoy 2.0 as it just didn’t work out and maybe he can find the right fit next season.
TE Nick Keizer – Demetrius Harris left and we had Blake Bell and realized how much we missed Demetrius. Then Nick Keizer took over and we realized how much we missed Blake Bell. We need to find a real #2 TE option that can be someone defenses have to account for, at least a little bit.
I’m comin’ to get you!
WR’s A.J. Green, Marvin Jones & Allen Robinson – Despite what people may tell you about all the Chiefs’ offensive weapons, the Chiefs have Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce… that’s it. Granted, they are two of the very best at their positions, but they need more weapons to open things up for those two and give Patrick more options to slice and dice a defense. A.J. Green may take a cheap deal looking to win before his career is over. Allen Robinson and Marvin Jones will cost some money, but the Chiefs can afford to pay one of these guys a reasonable, yet still under market value deal if they want to take a little less to play for a winner.
TE’s Jared Cook, TE Tyler Eifert & Jordan Reed – These three tight ends are just what the doctor ordered so that the Chiefs can add another red zone threat and a legit weapon outside of Travis in the tight end room.
RB’s James White, Matt Breida, Mike Davis, Frank Gore & Adrian Peterson – James White and Matt Breida are more of your agile catching out of the backfield backs that add versatility in the passing game. Mike Davis, Frank Gore and Adrian Peterson, on the other hand, are your more physical downhill runners who can help the Chiefs with their red zone and short yardage running woes.
DE’s Von Miller, J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Justin Houston & Olivier Vernon – Reunited and it feels so good! Could Justin Houston be an option for the Chiefs to help solve their pass rushing deficiencies? Von Miller wears #58 for Denver because of his admiration for Derrick Thomas so would he take a cheap deal to play for Derrick’s former team? J.J. Watt was just released by the Houston Texans and Jadeveon Clowney had in-season surgery and is a free agent, while Olivier Vernon is out with the Browns. All we need is one of these guys that wants to play for a Super Bowl badly enough that they take a team and cap friendly contract.
LT’s Trent Williams, Russell Okung & Alejandro Villanueva – Three older left tackles that still have gas in the tank and can help protect Mahomes’ blindside if Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz don’t come back or aren’t ready for the start of the 2021 season.
G J.R. Sweezy – Laurent Duvernay-Tardif should be back, but he didn’t play well in 2019 and just took a year off football. Can we count on him? Kelechi Osemele is a free agent and is coming off an injury. The Chiefs need to add another guard whether it be here with J.R. Sweezy or in the draft.
C’s Alex Mack & Mike Pouncey – Austin Reiter is serviceable, but is a backup player. Alex Mack is getting up there, but still a quality performer for a year while the Chiefs try to locate a more long-term option. Mike Pouncey would be another name for the Chiefs to consider if he’d take a little less to play for a winner.
CB’s Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman, Jason McCourty & Dre Kirkpatrick – Richard Sherman and Jason McCourty already have Super Bowl’s to their name, but they are aging players. Do they want one last payday or one last run to a Super Bowl? Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick on the other hand, one would guess, would be willing to take a large cut in salary to finally be on a winner and have a great shot at finally contributing for a Super Bowl favorite. Also, Patrick Peterson teaming up with Tyrann Mathieu, two former LSU Tigers, could be an attractive part of the Kansas City package to lure Patrick Peterson to Chiefs Kingdom.
I agree on all they should keep and for the most all they should let go, except all the OL. They all played pretty damn good considering the fact. They wont be expensive and know the playbook. At least through traning camp. Assuming there is one. Now for FAs. Not just no but hell no on the WRs and RBs you suggested. Also pouncy has retired with his brother no long an option.
Excellent article!! Veatch has some major work to do in just a few short weeks…and as you lay out well in more areas of the game we are in desperate need of than we’ve needed in a few years…let’s hope he can draw some major talent to the team….we’ll see more in the coming weeks that would be good gets as they fall onto the waiver wire and then the predraft and postdraft trades….his own paycheck is on the line, imho..
Sorenson proved again why Andy Reid loves him. Denver game in the snow, Browns game hit changed the game, helped us win as much as Chad Henne. He’s asked to do too much, and can be out of position, but more often, he’s making game changing plays. Tonah K. doesn’t get noticed but is often the second reason why a play gets blown up, and improves each year, this year playing almost every snap. Don’t need a running back, do need 2 TEs. Both who can block and catch to help out new/old Tackles. More 3 TE formations that we RPO out of making headaches for the defenses who will try to emulate what the Bucs did against us.