6 Free Agents Who Won't Be Signing with the Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have the potential to become a playoff threat if they can re-sign their key players and address a couple of key needs through free agency and the draft this offseason. The 2015 offseason is crucial as it is the third year into the John Dorsey-Andy Reid era, where expectations and standards become high.
On paper, the Chiefs are a couple of pieces away. However, the business side always plays a role. For Kansas City, the business side could hold the team back from reaching its potential.
Joel Corry of CBSSports.com reported back in December that the Chiefs have around $400,000 in cap space for 2015, which is never ideal, especially for a non-playoff team. Even with the idea of letting players go and re-structuring one or two current contracts, the Chiefs are still in a bind financially.
Here are a few notable free agents who the Chiefs will have no shot at signing this offseason.
1. Michael Vick, New York Jets
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Michael Vick and Reid have a special history together back in Philadelphia due to Reid giving Vick a chance in 2009 when he returned to the league. While Vick, who won the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2010, would be a nice backup for Reid, it is unlikely the two reunite in Kansas City.
The Chiefs announced they had signed Terrelle Pryor last month, making it likely that Chase Daniel gets traded away and Pryor becomes the top backup behind Alex Smith.
With the Chiefs also mentioning that Tyler Bray tore his ACL, the team would go into OTAs with four quarterbacks right now and need to keep it at four in order to allow enough repetitions to go around for all of the quarterbacks.
2. RB DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys
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Running back is certainly not a position of need for the Chiefs with Jamaal Charles leading the way, and Knile Davis and De'Anthony Thomas behind him. Even so, a high-caliber player becomes available, every team will consider him.
Because of Kansas City's financial issues, bringing DeMarco Murray to Kansas City would be a long shot. Especially after the Chiefs signed Charles to an extension early in training camp last season.
As one of the top free agents, it is anticipated that Murray demands a lot of money after leading the league in rushing.
3. WR Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
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Dez Bryant to Kansas City would make a lot of Chiefs fans ecstatic but don't expect it to become a reality. Bryant, who led the league in touchdown grabs with 16, has been one of the top receivers in the league since his second year and it is doubtful the Cowboys let him slip.
Even if he becomes available in free agency, Bryant, like Murray, will have a lot of leverage and ask for a lot of money from NFL teams interested in him.
While he is worth it, the Chiefs currently would be unsuccessful in meeting Bryant's needs.
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4. WR Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles
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With the release of DeSean Jackson, former Missouri Tigers wide receiver Jeremy Maclin became the new No. 1 receiver in Philadelphia and rose to the occasion when he returned after missing all of 2013.
Maclin finished in the top 15 in catches, receiving yards and touchdown receptions in 2014, concluding his bounce-back campaign as the most improved wide receiver.
An Eagles reunion between Reid and Maclin in Kansas City sounds nice, but the reality of it is a reach as the Eagles could slap the franchise tag on their top receiver.
5. C Rodney Hudson, Kansas City Chiefs
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The Chiefs could have a hard time bringing back one of their own players due to salary limitations. While Justin Houston remains the top priority and will likely receive the franchise tag, Rodney Hudson may test the market this offseason.
Terez Paylor of The Kansas City Star wrote that Hudson could ask for $7 million annually.
The Chiefs find themselves in a pickle. Although Houston led the league in sacks, the team can't afford to let Hudson go either.
Hudson is the most underrated offensive lineman in the league and the only viable pass-blocker for Kansas City.
6. DT Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
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Ndamukong Suh is one of the most dangerous defensive linemen in the league, coming away with 36 sacks in five years while missing only two games in his entire career.
Any NFL team looking to snag Suh knows that alongside dominance, they are getting longevity from a player with no health problems.
But the Chiefs feel pretty good about nose tackle Dontari Poe, who has made it to back-to-back Pro Bowls and has elevated to one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league. Therefore, Suh coming to Kansas City becomes nothing more than a dream scenario.
Who Do the Chiefs Have a Chance at Signing?
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While we went over the list of a couple of players who have little to no chance to come to Kansas City, what about the players who may spend 2015 in Kansas City?
OLB Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs
Bottom line: You don't let a player who led the league with 22 sacks go. The Chiefs will give Houston the franchise tag.
A past connection with John Dorsey in Green Bay makes this a possibility and worth it but how much money will Randall Cobb demand? Either way, there is no doubt that Dorsey targets a past player.
Michael Crabtree has some familiarity with Alex Smith, which creates instant on-field chemistry for the offense and might be an inexpensive addition.
WR Cecil Shorts, Jacksonville Jaguars
If Cecil Shorts plays with a better quarterback around him, he could become a bigger threat on offense. His demand can't be too high either.
TE Virgil Green, Denver Broncos
Playing behind Julius Thomas and Jacob Tamme, Virgil Green is an underrated blocking tight end, which the Chiefs need considering Charles is a focal point of the offense.
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