NFL free agency is right around the corner as all 32 teams are officially focused on 2024 with the Super Bowl complete. The Kansas City Chiefs have won back-to-back championships but stated their intent to become the first team to hoist three straight Lombardi Trophies at Wednesday’s Super Bowl parade.
Kansas City has some key decisions to make in free agency that could ultimately be crucial in those pursuits, with several top free agents potentially poised for big paydays. With the Chiefs having five players on PFN’s Top 100 list of 2024 free agents, retaining all of them could certainly be a challenge.
Kansas City Chiefs Free Agents
Chris Jones, DT
- Overall ranking: 2
- Positional ranking: 1
- 2023 stats: 16 games (16 starts), 30 tackles (20 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, four pass breakups.
- Spotrac Market Valuation: Three years, $85 million
- John Fields’ Take: Jones is one of the top free agents available on the market, trailing only Kirk Cousins in PFN’s overall rankings, and remains a crucial difference-maker in Kansas City. Jones made key plays in the Super Bowl win and throughout the season as a first-team All-Pro selection and Pro Bowler. Retaining him should be a top priority for the Chiefs this offseason, and Jones made it clear at the Super Bowl parade that he intends to stick around for a run at a three-peat.
L’Jarius Sneed, CB
- Overall ranking: 10
- Positional ranking: 2
- 2023 stats: 16 games (16 starts), 78 tackles (60 solo), 14 pass breakups, two interceptions
- Spotrac Market Valuation: Four years, $65 million
- Fields’ Take: Sneed is another of the league’s top available free agents this offseason and has established himself as a crucial part of Kansas City’s secondary. He looks to be in line for a big payday this offseason following a second straight standout year, though it remains to be seen whether the Chiefs are willing to shell out for him given the other FAs they could look to keep around. Trent McDuffie’s emergence could also give Kansas City confidence to fill the position at a lower price tag.
Willie Gay, LB
- Overall ranking: 57
- Positional ranking: 5
- 2023 stats: 16 games (15 starts), 58 tackles (44 solo), four tackles for loss, four pass breakups, three fumble recoveries
- Spotrac Market Valuation: Four years, $28 million
- Fields’ Take: Gay is one of two key free agent linebackers for the Chiefs this offseason, and draws the slightly higher ranking both overall and positionally. He’s been a dependable contributor across four seasons in Kansas City since being selected in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, though not quite a star-caliber player. Still, Gay is certainly a useful young player in the linebacking corps that seems likely to re-sign if he and the Chiefs can agree on a price.
Donovan Smith, OT
- Overall ranking: 60
- Positional ranking: 6
- 2023 stats: 12 games (12 starts), six accepted penalties, played 92% of snaps
- Spotrac Market Valuation: N/A
- Fields’ Take: Smith played a significant role in Kansas City this past season after signing with the franchise on a one-year deal last offseason. He certainly had some ups and downs and was far from a perfect solution protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blind side, but he provided serviceable cover up front. Whether the Chiefs look to retain him or look elsewhere at the spot remains to be seen.
Drue Tranquill, LB
- Overall ranking: 63
- Positional ranking: 6
- 2023 stats: 16 games (eight starts), 78 tackles (53 solo), seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles
- Spotrac Market Valuation: N/A
- Fields’ Take: Tranquill carved out a role in Kansas City after signing a one-year pact with the franchise this past offseason, serving as their third-leading tackler in total stops among a quartet of linebackers who made key contributions. It’s unclear at this point what the future might hold for Tranquill, but remaining with the Chiefs could be appealing for both sides at the right price, depending on whether Kansas City also attempts to retain Gay.
KEEP READING: Which Miami Dolphins Free Agents Made PFN’s 2024 Top 100 List?
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