Chiefs Free Company: 7 winners and 4 losers from the primary week

The narratives about NFL free company may be as predictable as they’re annoying. The groups that spend huge cash so as to add easily-recognizable gamers are successful the offseason. Groups that don’t are falling behind.

After locking up celebrity defensive deal with Chris Jones earlier than the insanity started on Monday, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs spent the primary few days of free company re-signing their very own depth gamers — and letting everybody on X (previously often known as Twitter) freak out as a result of the league’s greatest out there vast receivers have been going elsewhere.

Let’s take inventory of the place the staff now stands.

Winners

Broad receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown: Some may assume that the one-year, $7 million contract signed by the previous Arizona Cardinals wideout wasn’t the deal he deserved. However he’s becoming a member of the back-to-back league champions — and will simply play an oversize position in a possible three-peat. Nonetheless simply 26, Brown must be well-positioned to get an enormous long-term contract a yr from now. He’s in a great place — and it’s an awesome deal for Kansas Metropolis, too.

Tight finish Travis Kelce and vast receiver Rashee Rice: To get again to being an offense that defenses concern on each degree, the Chiefs desperately wanted a big-play receiver. With Brown now on board, issues ought to open up for Kelce and Rice; they’ll every draw much less consideration from defenses than they did in 2023. And with the addition of Irv Smith Jr., Kelce also needs to see his workload lower somewhat. In the meantime, Rice can nonetheless be the featured vast receiver — and the one with a long-term future in Kansas Metropolis; Brown is neither Rice’s substitute nor a “true No. 1” receiver that would push Rice down a peg.

Defensive lineman Chris Jones: As soon as the wage cap elevated, we in all probability ought to have identified that Jones was lastly going to get the “Aaron Donald cash” he’s all the time wished. The query was whether or not the Chiefs can be the staff to provide it to him — and retain his presence, productiveness and persona for the remainder of his profession. So it’s an enormous win for everyone. And as we are able to breathe our collective sigh of aid, let’s acknowledge that it was Clark Hunt who gave the inexperienced mild to chop the large examine. He’s earned that credit score.

Operating again Isiah Pacheco: Free company started with a number of motion amongst working backs. Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, De’Andre Swift and others modified groups. Kansas Metropolis may have been available in the market for a veteran to pair with Pacheco — maybe somebody like Austin Eckeler — however the week handed with no new veteran again on the staff. This left Pacheco because the unquestioned No. 1 — at the least for now. In all of this motion, there appeared to be little curiosity within the Chiefs’ free agent Clyde Edwards-Helaire. If he finally ends up with little to no market, he may find yourself returning to Kansas Metropolis.

Left deal with Wayna Morris: Because the Chiefs weren’t aggressive about including a veteran deal with, it may imply the staff has religion in Morris as its Day 1 starter. Or it may imply the staff intends to focus on that place within the draft — and simply desires us to assume Morris is the man. Till confirmed in any other case, we’ll assume Morris has an excellent likelihood to be the blind-side protector this season.

The run-it-back theme: This week’s strikes have been nearly fully about protecting the staff’s personal position gamers in the home. Kansas Metropolis signed defensive tackles Mike Pennel, Tershawn Wharton and Derrick Nnadi, lengthy snapper James Winchester, security Deon Bush and linebacker Drue Tranquill — and extendend tender affords for the entire staff’s unique rights free brokers: linebackers Jack Cochrane and Cole Christiansen, offensive lineman Mike Caliendo, defensive finish Malik Herring and security Nazeeh Johnson. For now, the staff that received back-to-back titles is concentrated on retaining its personal depth.

Losers

Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed: When Jones bought paid, all of it however sealed a commerce for the staff’s free-agent cornerback. Whereas everybody can be pleased to have one of many league’s greatest all-around corners again on the roster, it’s clear that the staff prioritized Jones; with so many good younger defensive backs on the roster, it will likely be snug absorbing Sneed’s loss. That isn’t all unhealthy information for the cornerback, both; he’ll very seemingly get a considerable contract with a brand new staff. With conflicting studies far and wide, we’re simply ready for the state of affairs to be resolved. The Chiefs in all probability worth Sneed greater than different groups — however in all probability don’t need to pay him, both. It’s not nice for him to be in limbo — and it’s seemingly multiple occasion on this state of affairs will likely be disillusioned with the end result.

Tight finish Blake Bell: Kansas Metropolis’s very first signing of an out of doors free agent was tight finish Irv Smith, Jr., who’s prone to substitute Bell in 2024. Smith signed an affordable one-year deal — simply as Bell has been doing. Bell has been a precious blocker and depth piece, however he’s getting up there in years — and in 2023, his manufacturing was primarily zero. I’d be stunned if there’s an enormous demand for his providers in free company.

Broad receivers Mecole Hardman and Kadarius Toney: Mecole was on prime of the soccer world after making the Tremendous Bowl’s longest play — after which the game-winning walk-off landing in time beyond regulation. However that was adopted by a public accusation of each tampering and dishonest throughout his time with the New York Jets. And now… Hardman has apparently had little curiosity from elsewhere. In the meantime, Toney’s 2023 season was a complete catastrophe. Marred by drops and errors, it ended with him being a wholesome scratch within the playoffs. It doesn’t appear seemingly that both wideout can have a big position with the staff this season.