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Best remaining free agents available for Chiefs

Charles Goldman
·3 min read

The NFL legal-tampering period has been open for a full 24 hours. Teams have been able to negotiate and put deals together with pending free agents from opposing teams. Several players have come off the board, but many at the top remain available for the Kansas City Chiefs heading into Day 2 of legal tampering.

Below you’ll find a look at the best remaining free agents at four positions of need for the Chiefs:

Wide receivers

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Tier 1:

  • Allen Robinson

  • Odell Beckham Jr.

  • JuJu Smith-Schuster

Tier 2:

  • Jarvis Landry

  • Marquez Valdes-Scantling

  • Will Fuller

Tier 3:

  • Rashard Higgins

  • T.Y. Hilton

  • Keelan Cole

There has been too much smoke surrounding the Chiefs and the WR market for them to not come away with one of these players. They’ve been connected to JuJu Smith-Schuster, Allen Robinson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jarvis Landry so far. Right now, I’d expect someone from the Tier 1 or Tier 2 group. If they have to shop in the Tier 3 group, they’re not going to be pleased with how things turned out.

Right now, the WR market is cold as ice because the Jacksonville Jaguars handed out massive contracts to lower-tier players in Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. Agents reportedly are negotiating thinking they can get that type of money out of other NFL teams, but those teams (like the Chiefs) aren’t budging.

EDGE rushers

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Tier 1:

  • Von Miller

  • Chandler Jones

Tier 2:

  • Za’Darius Smith

  • Melvin Ingram

  • Jason Pierre-Paul

Tier 3:

  • Al-Quadin Muhhamad

  • Derek Barnett

  • Jadeveon Clowney

  • Olivier Vernon

The Chiefs made it very clear heading into this offseason that their goal was to upgrade their defensive line, specifically as it relates to the pass-rush. They’ve been connected to Za’Darius Smith, largely because of his relationship with new Chiefs DL coach Joe Cullen. With the market heating up this morning with Charles Harris and Randy Gregory coming off the board, I’d expect some movement here for Kansas City if they’re truly interested in any of these players.

Offensive tackle

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Tier 1:

  • Trent Brown

  • La’el Collins

  • Marcus Cannon

Tier 2:

  • Billy Turner

  • Morgan Moses

  • Andrew Wylie

Tier 3:

  • Darryl Williams

The AFC West is loaded with edge rush talent with the Chargers trading for Khalil Mack and the Broncos adding Randy Gregory during this free agency period. The Chiefs don’t have a solid answer at the right tackle position. Lucas Niang is likely to start the season on the PUP list with his knee injury which would keep him out of the mix until midseason at earliest. The free agent market isn’t exactly flush with talent, but there are some intriguing options out there that could be solid stop-gap options for Kansas City.

Cornerback

Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini

Tier 1:

  • Stephon Gilmore

  • Darious Williams

  • Rasul Douglas

Tier 2:

  • D.J. Reed

  • Levi Wallace

  • Casey Heyward Jr.

  • Joe Haden

  • Ahkello Witherspoon

Tier 3:

  • K’Wuan Williams

  • A.J. Bouye

  • Janoris Jenkins

  • Kyle Fuller

The Chiefs lost starting CB Charvarius Ward to the San Francisco 49ers. They’ve got some depth at the position, but they’ll look to add to the group because of the old NFL trope that you can never have too many cornerbacks. This market in free agency is quite flush with talent. In fact, there are plenty of good options here, whether you’re looking for a young star or a salty veteran. I think Kansas City can afford to wait on this market a little bit and find a fit both schematically and financially as the free agency period progresses.

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