ESPN Insider Offseason Priorities: Kansas City Chiefs

[iowajerms]

There was a point during the 2014 season in which the Kansas City Chiefs looked to be one of the contenders in the AFC, as they won five straight games after a 2-3 start. But five losses in their final six games dashed the Chiefs' playoff hopes in the competitive AFC West.

As we look ahead to 2015, the team has one important need -- re-signing impending free agent Justin Houston -- but the list doesn't end there. Here's a look at other areas that need addressing:

1. Secure Houston for 2015, and beyond if possible

Outside linebacker Justin Houston continued his upward trajectory and is among the best young defensive players in football. At just 25 years old, he's already one of the feared pass-rushers in the league, coming off a 22.0-sack season, best in the NFL. The team was able to sign quarterback Alex Smith before this season began, freeing up the franchise tag to utilize elsewhere in 2015. If talks stall on a long-term deal, it would make sense for the Chiefs to use the franchise tag on Houston. But the best outcome for the Chiefs is locking Houston up to a deal that keeps him in Kansas City for several seasons.

2. Make the offensive line a priority

Left tackle Eric Fisher made some progress in his second season, but early-season injuries and a suspension for offensive tackle Donald Stephenson affected this group. Center Rodney Hudson is set to be an unrestricted free agent, and should be another priority to re-sign, as he may be among the top three centers in the NFL. The team needs to add at least one guard, as veteran Mike McGlynn does not profile as a long-term starter, while rookie Zach Fulton stepped into a prominent role this season. Losing Hudson would be significant.

3. Make the receiving corps a priority, too

It has been well-documented: The Chiefs' wide receivers didn't score a single touchdown this season. Dwayne Bowe, a recipient of a major contract extension during the 2013 offseason, is under contract for three more years, though a suspension this past offseason may have voided all of the remaining guaranteed money on his deal, which was only $1.75 million of his $10.75 million base salary in 2015.

So while adding a dynamic wide receiver is on the to-do list, it's also fair to wonder if the Chiefs will keep Bowe, who still has more than $30 million owed to him through 2017. Undrafted rookie Albert Wilson has improved in recent weeks, but this group needs a significant upgrade overall. Perhaps the Chiefs can target a potential No. 1 target with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2015 draft.

4. Add depth at inside linebacker

When healthy, Derrick Johnson is among the most consistent and productive linebackers in the NFL. An Achilles tendon injury ended his season after just one game, and the 32-year-old enters the final year of his deal in 2015. If Johnson returns to full health and his usual form, he's an exceptional option to man one spot in the middle of the defense. The Chiefs need to add another body to the inside linebacker competition, and Josh Mauga should be under consideration to return, as he is another player set to be a free agent.

Offseason fixes for the Kansas City Chiefs - NFL - ESPN
By Field Yates

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Well, I can't really argue with this. This sounds about right.

 

[MHSL82]

The Chiefs can create roughly $53 million in cap room by cutting or restructuring 11 players this offseason. Obviously, all of these won't happen. However, the point is that general manager John Dorsey has options.

▪ QB Alex Smith: The Chiefs' $68 million quarterback isn't going anywhere, but Corry says the Chiefs can free up nearly $8.2 million in cap space by converting his 2015 base salary of $10.9 million into a signing bonus — a discretionary right teams have been working into contracts more and more. “I don't know if K.C. worked that into his contract, but I'm assuming they did,” Corry said. “That's how Chicago created the cap room with (Jay) Cutler to sign Jared Allen (last season).”

▪ QB Chase Daniel: The Chiefs stand to save $3.8 million by trading or releasing Daniel, but Corry brings up a good point. “Given the fact he's played well the last two years when you gave him an extended look, you really want to go to unproven backup in the event something happens,” Corry said. “Quarterbacks get hurt — a lot. Look at Arizona. They're down to their third string or fourth-string guy.” Still, the Chiefs are trying to develop Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray, so if the Chiefs do release Daniel, Corry suspects he will come out ahead on open market — high-end backup quarterbacks typically cost over $4 million.

▪ WR Dwayne Bowe: If the Chiefs were to cut Bowe, they could save $5 million in cap space in 2015. And if they make him a post-June 1 cut, they can save $11 million in 2015, though they'd also have $6 million in dead money in 2016. But if the Chiefs strike out in free agency at the position — it's unclear whether speedsters Randall Cobb and Jeremy Maclin will be available — Corry thinks the Chiefs might be better off approaching Bowe for a restructure. “Why not see if he's open to a pay cut to go from $11 million to $6 million where he can each it back with reachable incentives,” Corry said. “There's no dead money at that point, so it would be the same savings as if you were to cut him normally.” Depending on Bowe's market value, Corry added, a restructured deal might be more that Bowe could make on the open market.

▪ WR Donnie Avery: A core muscle injury kept him out for most of the season, and he just wasn't the same when he returned in time to see rookie Albert Wilson pull of a reasonable Avery impression. The Chiefs could save $3.5 million by releasing him.

▪ WR A.J. Jenkins: The Chiefs will have to make a decision on him early — he's due a roster bonus of $677,390 on March 12. The Chiefs could save $1.3 million by releasing him.

▪ TE Anthony Fasano: Travis Kelce emerged as the Chiefs' top tight end this year, and the team stands to save $4.25 million if the cut him outright. They could also save $3.1 million if they make him a post-June 1 cut. Fasano, however, is a steady veteran and a trusted target of quarterback Alex Smith.

▪ DE Mike DeVito: The Chiefs can save $4 million by releasing DeVito, but his run-stopping ability was missed up front, and if he returns to even 85 percent of what he was before his Achilles’ injury, he can help this defense.

▪ DE Vance Walker: The Chiefs signed him to a three-year deal last offseason, and he played well in limited opportunities. Still, the Chiefs could save $1.7 million but releasing him.

▪ OLB Tamba Hali: Corry says the Chiefs have to make a decision on the hard-working, long-time veteran by March 10th because he has a $2 million roster bonus due then. The Chiefs stand to save $9 million by releasing Hali, but since he's coming off a Pro Bowl season, Corry suspects Hali will fare just fine on the open market. “You could be doing him a favor,” Corry said, before referring to two veteran pass rushers who hit the market last offseason “DaMarcus Ware is making $13 million in the first year of a big deal and Julius Peppers is making $8.5 million and he's coming off a bad year. Hali is supposed to make $9 million in 2015, so he could conceivably make more in 2015 if you let him hit the market.”

▪ ILB Joe Mays: Was the Chiefs' best inside linebacker once Derrick Johnson got hurt, but he only played half the season due to a wrist injury. With the Chiefs expected to look at inside linebackers this offseason, they could save $2.7 million by releasing him.

▪ ILB Derrick Johnson: The Chiefs can save a whopping $5.2 million by cutting Johnson, but he's in the same boat as DeVito — he was missed greatly after his Achilles’ injury.

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[GenJac]

The Chiefs defensive may lack some depth at this point but their starting unit may be one of their best yet...

DE Bailey, NT Poe, DE DeVito, OLB Houston, ILB Johnson, ILB Mauga, OLB Hali, CB Sean Smith, CB Peters, SS Parker, FS Abdullah...