2012 NFL Free Agency: Kansas City Chiefs Re-Sign Travis Daniels

It likely won't draw the same exuberance from fans as landing Eric Winston or Peyton Hillis did, but the Chiefs re-signed an important veteran on Wednesday, coming to terms with defensive back Travis Daniels.

Daniels, originally a fourth-round pick of the Dolphins in 2005, has been with Kansas City since 2009. He has played in the league for seven seasons, including a year with Cleveland in 2008. In Kansas City, he's maintained a reserve and special teams role, playing in the slot and on the perimeter for the Chiefs in sub-packages. 

He's also seen spot duty at safety, highlighting the sort of versatility that head coach Romeo Crennel looks for in his defenders.

Daniels is a borderline average athlete for the position, with sufficient quick-twitch movements for a cornerback, but he makes up for his athletic deficiencies with instincts and savvy.

He's picked up three interceptions and 43 tackles in 41 games as a Chief and will likely serve a familiar backup role in 2012. The Chiefs will start Brandon Flowers and likely Stanford Routt, while Daniels, Javier Arenas and Jalil Brown contribute to the various sub-packages that Crennel devises.

In a division that includes Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers, it's important to possess a secondary with playmakers and role players to prevent them from exposing a defense. Daniels is no star, but he will make a positive contribution for the Chiefs once again in 2012.