Ranking the 2015 Impact of the Kansas City Chiefs' Free-Agent Signings So Far
After concerns that the Kansas City Chiefs would have little activity in the offseason due to being in a bind with the salary cap, general manager John Dorsey came away with an impressive first week in free agency.
Addressing some glaring holes and even bringing back a couple of players, Dorsey has built a good roster for 2015. Even more, addressing key holes in free agency allows the Chiefs to be flexible in the draft as they can look outside of wide receiver and offensive line with their first-round pick.
Dorsey has made moves on both sides of the football, trying to make the Chiefs a better team than what they were in 2014.
In this slideshow, we will recap and rank the top offseason additions made by the Chiefs.
8. S Kelcie McCray
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Kelcie McCray was acquired through a trade midway through the 2014 preseason and impressed the Chiefs coaching staff.
Though he rarely saw any action on defense, McCray shined on special teams, a facet that coaches strongly value.
Pro Football Focus rated McCray as the second-best special teams player in the NFL as he was one of three players from Kansas City rated in the top three.
It is no surprise to see Chiefs players own the top three due to Dave Toub being the team's special teams coordinator. Bringing back McCray was important as he is familiar with Toub's expectations on special teams and should do even better in his second year under his guidance.
7. QB Terrelle Pryor
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The Chiefs signed Terrelle Pryor in January after being out of the league for the 2014 season. Many Chiefs fans were against the move, mainly because Pryor struggled while playing for a division rival in the Oakland Raiders.
But many players and coaches struggled in their first run, and some took advantage of a second chance. Chiefs coach Andy Reid gave Mike Vick a second chance in Philadelphia as Pryor's style is similar to Vick's. When Donovan McNabb was let go and Vick became the primary quarterback, Vick took home the league's Comeback Player of the Year award in 2010.
Backup quarterback Chase Daniel is set to make $4.8 million this season, possibly making him one of the richest backup quarterback ever. If released, the Chiefs free up $3.8 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. Therefore, Pryor could become the new primary backup.
If Alex Smith suffers an injury and Pryor has to lead the offense, expect him to do well in Reid's system. We saw Vick do a good job of managing Reid's offense. Pryor's career could move forward with Reid giving him another opportunity.
Pryor threw for almost 1,800 yards, seven touchdowns and 11 interceptions through 11 games in 2013.
6. WR Jason Avant
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Jason Avant's time with the Chiefs was brief and quiet as he played in just five games, pulling in 13 catches for 152 yards. But if Avant is given a full year, including OTAs and training camp, he could become a valuable asset, especially given the fact that he is familiar with Reid after playing for him for seven seasons in Philadelphia.
Avant had 259 catches for 3,602 yards and 10 touchdowns in the seven years he played for the Philadelphia Eagles before Chip Kelly replaced Reid as Philadelphia's head coach.
Avant has never been a major impact player. However, the Chiefs don't have plenty of options at wide receiver, and Avant has familiarity with Reid. In the NFL, familiarity is a good thing and goes a long way.
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5. CB/S Ron Parker
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It was an up-and-down season for Ron Parker, who was able to play both cornerback and safety when needed to.
Parker's role for 2015 is uncertain right now and depends on several factors, such as whether or not Eric Berry is cleared to play and who Kansas City's starting safeties and wide receivers will be.
For now, Parker provides depth and can fill in at either position. Parker played better coverage while serving as a safety, which is where the Chiefs will likely use him, especially if the defense is without Berry for 2015.
4. S Tyvon Branch
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Alongside Pryor, the Chiefs snagged another former Oakland Raider in Tyvon Branch.
Branch has played well at safety for the Raiders. He's never had a season where he was below-average and is reliable.
In Kansas City, Branch could see a turn in his career as he will have help from an incredibly powerful front seven. With plenty of ill-advised passes expected, this gives Branch an opportunity to come up with a few takeaways.
If Branch, who has only appeared in five games in the last two seasons, can stay healthy, he could equate his career total interceptions of four in one season due to the help he will get from Kansas City's pass rush.
3. G Paul Fanaika
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You wanted new offensive linemen, and Dorsey has recruited a pair of new guards.
Paul Fanaika is coming off a solid season after allowing only one sack in 2014. Though he has areas he needs to improve in, he is likely to do better under Reid.
For now, Fanaika is a big upgrade at right guard over Zach Fulton for the Chiefs.
2. WR Jeremy Maclin
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After a lack of production from wide receivers last year, Chiefs fans got exactly what they wanted in Jeremy Maclin. After missing the entire 2013 season, Maclin bounced back after he caught 85 passes for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns.
As mentioned with Avant, Maclin is familiar with Reid as he played for him for four seasons with the Eagles while serving as the No. 2 receiver behind DeSean Jackson.
Maclin proved this past year that he can be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL, especially after spending a year catching passes from Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez.
With Maclin on the team, tight end Travis Kelce will continue to do well as defenses now have to pick their poison. This opens up Kelce a little bit more on the field, giving Smith more opportunities to move the chains and score more touchdowns with the Chiefs this season.
If the Chiefs seek a wide receiver early in the draft to serve as the No. 2 receiver, Kansas City's passing game will improve immensly.
1. G Ben Grubbs
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Many of you may put Maclin as the No. 1 offseason addition, which is understandable. But the Chiefs desperately needed offensive linemen. Dorsey traded a fifth-round pick for Ben Grubbs, a two-time Pro Bowler who surrendered just one sack last year. On average, Grubbs allows two to three sacks per year.
Though the Chiefs can still improve at the offensive line, Smith already has some reliable blockers heading into 2015.
Grubbs is an immediate upgrade over Mike McGlynn and will help the Chiefs offense move forward.
Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com and Pro Football Focus.
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