Chiefs Free Company: How KC makes use of cap house from L’Jarius Sneed commerce

On Friday night time, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs reportedly traded cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans. As soon as Sneed’s $19.8 million franchise tag wage comes off of the crew’s books, we estimate that the Chiefs may have about $26.5 million in wage cap house.

An upcoming piece will analyze what Kansas Metropolis might do to switch Sneed’s position within the secondary. Let’s have a look at another methods the Chiefs can use the cap house they’ve created to fill out the roster.

Re-signing remaining in-house free brokers

Instantly after the commerce, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler—one of many extra reliable league insiders protecting Kansas Metropolis’s entrance workplace — steered the crew might look to deliver again two contributors to final season’s Tremendous Bowl-winning season: defensive finish Mike Danna and deal with Donovan Smith.

Each strikes would make sense.

The Chiefs appeared to have adequately deliberate for Danna’s departure in free company by drafting two move rushers final offseason — together with utilizing the thirty first general choose on Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Sadly, Charles Omenihu’s late January ACL-tear places his standing unsure to start out the season. Even when Anudike-Uzomah or fifth-round choice BJ Thompson proves prepared for rotational roles, the Chiefs probably will nonetheless have to fill Omenihu’s snaps for a lot of the season.

Few anticipated Danna — coming off of a profession yr in his fourth season — to stay unsigned two weeks into free company. At this level, his greatest alternative could also be to return to the Chiefs on a one-year contract to enhance his free-agent inventory for 2025.

Whereas the Chiefs probably hope that Wanya Morris — final yr’s third-round choice — proves worthy of beginning at left deal with, his readiness is way from assured after an up-and-down six-game stretch as a rookie. Smith would supply a veteran competitor to drive Morris to earn the position.

Trying to the draft, the Chiefs might discover some intriguing deal with prospects out there late within the first spherical. Nonetheless, they’ll probably not realistically have the ability to choose a deal with who can be a Week 1 improve over Morris in defending the blindside of Patrick Mahomes. Smith’s presence would enable the Chiefs to establish a prospect with beginning left deal with upside whereas permitting time for improvement.

Solidifying the vast receiver room

The Chiefs’ solely notable exterior addition because the begin of free company has been a one-year pact with vast receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Now that Sneed’s scenario is resolved, they could make one other transfer at vast receiver after the unit’s struggles in 2023.

Although free company has largely come and gone, some intriguing move catchers stay in the marketplace, probably hoping to catch on with a contender.

In 2020, the Chiefs reportedly tried to signal wideout Josh Reynolds earlier than he selected the Titans. Now, again in the marketplace after spending the previous two seasons with the Detroit Lions, the 6-foot-3 Reynolds’ abilities can be a stable praise to Brown and second-year vast receiver Rashee Rice in a revamped room.

The Chiefs seem to have flirted with the concept of signing veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr. — as soon as among the many league’s greatest stars — for 2 years. Beckham started his seemingly annual free-agent tour this week by visiting the Miami Dolphins. There has by no means been a extra reasonable alternative for a pairing between Beckham and Kansas Metropolis if the Chiefs are legitimately .

Free company stays deep with move catchers. Former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd continues to be in search of his subsequent crew. Former Titans and New York Jets receiver Corey Davis additionally not too long ago ended his one-year retirement and is reportedly in search of a brand new crew.

Whereas this yr’s draft is stacked at vast receiver, the Chiefs ought to take this chance to promote one of many remaining veteran choices on coming to Kansas Metropolis for 2024. With the protection prone to take a minimum of a small step backward in Sneed’s absence, elevating the ground for the offense shall be essential.

Extending key gamers

The Chiefs will face extra key free-agent choices a yr from now as linebacker Nick Bolton, heart Creed Humphrey and guard Trey Smith see their rookie contracts expire. All offensive linemen are coated beneath a single franchise tag quantity — set by ever-increasing left deal with salaries. The linebacker franchise tag quantity is equally skewed by monster salaries for standing edge-rushers in 3-4 defenses. Due to this actuality, none of those gamers are reasonable tag candidates.

If the Chiefs wish to retain the companies of a number of of Bolton, Humphrey, and Smith, they’ll most likely want to barter contract extensions this offseason. After the gamers acquired obligatory raises beneath the league’s confirmed efficiency escalator, new offers may very well decrease their current cap numbers.

The Chiefs’ calculus in shifting on from Sneed, nevertheless, might have been pushed by greater than wage cap issues. It’s potential the Chiefs wished to make use of a number of the virtually $20 million he was scheduled to earn in precise money for signing bonus funds to a minimum of one of many pending free brokers for 2025.

The underside line

The Chiefs have constructed unbelievable depth from the previous few drafts. Sneed presents the primary of what is going to be a number of situations of the Chiefs prioritizing general roster flexibility over a second contract for a fan favourite.

With the funds now out there, anticipate the Chiefs to retain one or two contributors from final season, make one other transfer to bolster the offense, and hand out a minimum of one extension to a 2021 draftee.