Don't Expect Splashy Offseason Moves from the Kansas City Chiefs

When general manager John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid joined forces in Kansas City in 2013, the Chiefs signed or re-signed a whopping 17 free agents before the draft, traded for quarterback Alex Smith and put the franchise tag on left tackle Branden Albert. The flurry of moves helped the Chiefs make a huge turnaround.

Last year, the activity was much more subdued. Dorsey didn’t make a splash by signing a big name nor did he do it by signing players in volume. In many ways, Dorsey returned to his Green Bay roots.

Don’t expect splashy big-name signings or a flurry of moves in Year 3, either. Other than re-signing or giving the franchise tag to outside linebacker Justin Houston, the 2015 offseason may have more by subtraction than addition for the Chiefs.

That’s not a bad thing. The roster is a lot closer to what Dorsey and Reid want it to be than it was when they took over two years ago. The foundation is there now for Dorsey to use the draft to build the Chiefs into a perennial contender.

For Dorsey, using the draft is the preferred route for dealing with roster issues. The Chiefs can address issues on the offensive line and at linebacker in May’s draft with good scouting. Wide receiver is a bit trickier due to the nature of the position.

"This year, I feel like our offensive line struggled a little bit, we had some injuries that caused (Alex Smith) to get sacked more than usual," Houston said on ESPN's First Take (via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star). "We definitely need some more receivers."

It often takes wide receivers a little time to get up to speed at the NFL level. The 2014 draft class was unique in that regard, much as the way the 2012 draft was unique for quarterbacks. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to draft a receiver, but Dorsey is likely going to have to address the position in free agency.

"I think that the stats speak for themselves," Dorsey said of his wide receiver position via NFL.com. "We're going to have to do some work there."

Dorsey tried to sign Emmanuel Sanders last offseason, but the Denver Broncos stole him away. Even if Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb hits the market, don’t expect the Chiefs to be a major player for his services.

Bargain options like Jeremy Maclin or Cecil Shorts make a lot more sense for the cap-strapped Chiefs. That brings us to the other reason why Dorsey isn’t going to have a splashy offseason: the salary cap.

Player	2015 Cap Hit	2015 Dead Money If Cut	2015 Cap Savings if Cut
Tamba Hali	$12.0M	$3.0M	$9.0M
Dwayne Bowe	$14.0M	$9.0M	$5.0M
Eric Berry	$8.4M	$2.9M	$5.5M
Chase Daniel	$4.8M	$1.0M	$3.8M

While it’s true that the Chiefs can save a great deal by cutting veteran players, they have still have to field a competitive team. The Chiefs can save $9 million by releasing outside linebacker Tamba Hali, $5 million by releasing wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, another $5.5 million by releasing safety Eric Berry and $3.8 million by releasing backup quarterback Chase Daniel.

Even after making all those moves and potentially more, the Chiefs will have less cap space than most teams to work with in 2015. That means they won’t be vying for the top free agents, which is probably a good thing since they are rarely good investments.

Only occasionally did the Packers dip their toe into free agency when Dorsey worked for the team. In many ways, his team-building philosophy mirrors that of Ted Thompson. It may not seem like Dorsey is as conservative but history suggests otherwise.

Following a cap-strapped 2005 season after taking over the Packers, Thompson signed 23 free agents before the draft, followed by 16 in 2006. He made a splash by signing Charles Woodson and defensive lineman Ryan Pickett in 2006. Thompson also re-signed then star defensive lineman Aaron Kampman.

From there, offseasons were a lot more ho-hum from the Packers. Until they signed pass-rusher Julius Peppers last offseason, it seemed like they might not make a splash in free agency ever again.

Year	Team	FA Signed (Non-Rookie)	Trades	Franchise Tag	Big Names
2014	Chiefs	7	0	0	-
2013	Chiefs	17	1	1	Alex Smith (Trade), Dwayne Bowe, Branden Albert (Tag), Sean Smith
2012	Packers	5	0	0	-
2011	Packers	5	0	0	-
2010	Packers	10	0	0	-
2009	Packers	10	1	0	-
2008	Packers	3	1	1	-
2007	Packers	16	0	0	-
2006	Packers	23	0	0	Charles Woodson, Aaron Kampman, Ryan Pickett

Dorsey may be slightly more aggressive in 2014 than he was in 2013. Losing Sanders and then having issues at wide receiver will certainly be fresh in his mind, but Dorsey must also protect the future.

Reid’s downfall in Philadelphia was being too ambitious in free agency. By bringing in Dorsey with him, Reid checked his own power with a football mind he trusted. Both should therefore be mindful that free agents with big names rarely provide the kind of production per dollar necessary to get the team over the hump and often have the reverse effect.

Dorsey will still have a busy and productive offseason. All the contract maneuvering will take time, and there’s still plenty of draft preparation.

Just because splashy signings aren’t likely to be on the way, the cap space is still going to be useful for mid-level signings. There are bargains in free agency and Dorsey has been surprisingly adept at shopping for talent that way.

With the AFC West in flux, the Chiefs are in position to become a perennial contender as long as Dorsey doesn’t make moves that set the franchise back. Alex Smith’s contract is enough of a handicap early that Dorsey can’t afford any more.

As it is, Reid has bailed him out in many ways. Eric Fisher may become a fine player, but he doesn’t look anything like a No. 1 overall pick after two years in the league. Of course, there’s only so much Reid can do. It’s up to Dorsey to upgrade the roster, but like the last two years, it’s not going to be very flashy.

Unless otherwise noted, salary cap data via overthecap.com. Signing information is via Packers.com and KCChiefs.com.