KC Chiefs’ First Wave of 2024 Free Agency Has Been a Success
With free agency officially opening up this week, the Kansas City Chiefs have been active and making moves early and often.
This should give fans hope, as it seems the team will be going all-in to try and be the first club in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowl titles. Here’s a look at some of their top stories from the first week of free agency.
Chiefs get Chris Jones back
On Sunday night, it was announced that Chris Jones would be re-signing with the Chiefs. The team made the massive deal official on Monday. Jones is set to make just north of $95 million in guaranteed money over the first three years of the five-year deal.
This is huge news for both the player and the team. Jones became the highest-paid defensive tackle ever after another excellent year on the field as the Chiefs won their second of back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Kansas City gets its centerpiece on the defensive line, and team leader, back to potentially retire as a Chief. Jones doesn’t look to be dropping off in pressure and production anytime soon — if he can play at a high level for the next three years, this will be a win-win for everyone involved.
Re-signing several other defensive linemen
The Chiefs decided bringing Chris Jones back by himself would not be enough. Tershawn Wharton, Jones’s primary backup, will be back on a one-year, $2.75M deal. Mike Pennel, another rotational defensive lineman, will also be back with the squad. Derrick Nnadi, who has started all 17 regular season games the past two seasons for the Chiefs, will return alongside Jones.
The Chiefs look like they will be all set up front on the defensive side of the ball with plenty of depth as the team tries to run it back again in 2024.
Kansas City says goodbye to some old friends
The Chiefs can’t bring everyone back. It would be impossible to do so with salary cap restrictions and sometimes, certain players have outplayed what the team can afford. There are also times when a player doesn’t play up to expectations and their time naturally ends with the team. Here are a few players who moved on during the free agency period:
- Willie Gay Jr.: New Orleans Saints
- Nick Allegretti: Washington Commanders
- Jody Fortson: Miami Dolphins
- Tommy Townsend: Houston Texans
Irv Smith Jr. and Marquise "Hollywood" Brown are Chiefs
Tight End Irv Smith Jr. will be joining the Chiefs as a low-risk option. Smith can battle for the backup tight end spot with Noah Gray and potentially a rookie if the Chiefs decide to add more depth there through the 2024 NFL Draft.
Marquise "Hollywood" Brown is reportedly signing a one-year deal worth $7M and up to $11M to play with the Chiefs. This is a great fit, and Brown was one of my top wide receiver targets for the Chiefs. He will be a nice complement to Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice, giving Patrick Mahomes a deep threat and he can also play well in the screen game around the line of scrimmage (something head coach Andy Reid has been known to do).
Speaking of Reid, Brown posted a text message between himself and Reid signaling that it was Reid who may have sealed the deal. Brown also endeared himself to Chiefs fans after the signing was announced, going live on Twitch and playing some fan favorite songs including “Red Kingdom," “Swag Surfin'” and even ending the session with Taylor Swift’s hit song “Blank Space." This could be a very fun fit.
While free agency and the official league year have just begun, the Chiefs have already made a lot of positive moves to keep them in line to be the favorites to get back and win another Super Bowl. A third Super Bowl in three years is unprecedented, but if any team in NFL history could do it, I wouldn’t put it past this Chiefs dynasty.
