2011 NFL Free Agency: Four Mistakes Kansas City Chiefs Must Avoid

After four months of debate, deliberation and no small amount of drama, the longest work stoppage in NFL history is finally over. Draft pick signing, free agency, trades and training camps are now only days away.

This year, the Kansas City Chiefs have an additional $30 million in cap room. Combined with the requirement to use 99 percent of their cap, and the deepest free agent class since its beginning in 1993, Clark Hunt and Scott Pioli could take the next big step in the Chiefs' return to the NFL elite.

It's a perfect storm, and the floodgates are wide open.

If Kansas City isn't careful, though, it could easily drown in the deluge of free agency and fast spending. A severely shortened signing period will likely lend a sense of urgency to any research and negotiation.

For every instance of a great free agent move, there are five or six cautionary tales of free agent signings gone terribly wrong. In fact, the Washington Redskins probably supply half of the bad ones.

The Chiefs need to watch themselves as this truncated off-season begins. But if they can avoid these potential pitfalls, they should come out on top—both in free agency and in the AFC West.

Take Care of Your Own First: Re-Sign Tamba Hali

Not since Tony Gonzalez has any drafted player done as much for Kansas City as Tamba Hali. A team player, Hali unquestioningly shifted from defensive end to linebacker when Kansas City changed to a 3-4 defense in 2009.

Already a relentless defender that always attacks the ball, Hali threw himself into learning his new position.  Both he and the Chiefs were rewarded for his efforts with an 8.5-sack season in 2009, and an AFC-leading 14.5 sacks in 2010.  Hali also earned his first Pro Bowl appearance last year.

Hali embodies everything the Chiefs look for in a player. He is one of the most talented defenders in the NFL, and has a non-stop motor that shows on every play. Most importantly, he is the very definition of a “quiet professional”, the antithesis of players like James Harrison, whose attitude and off-field actions nearly overshadow their brilliance on-field.

Even though Kansas City already has Hali “locked in” with the franchise tag, it could make a strong statement to other free agents by taking care of its own first. Rewarding Hali for his performance with a long-term contract would encourage other players looking for stability, particularly after such a long period of turmoil.

Kansas City won’t find a better place to invest its extra cap room than right at home.

Less Is More: Limit Spending at Wide Receiver

Wide receiver was certainly one of Kansas City’s weakest positions in 2010. Outside of Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs receivers only totaled a combined 60 receptions (81 if you count hybrid player Dexter McCluster). And with no valid threat opposite Bowe, teams with premier cornerbacks could simply lock down Bowe and eliminate the Kansas City passing game.

As with nearly every other position, a number of notable players are available at receiver. And considering the subpar performance of their incumbents, the Chiefs could be easily enticed to make a big investment in one of the upper echelon talents available.

This is the type of knee-jerk reaction Kansas City needs to avoid like a Kenny Britt party.

The Chiefs have already invested a first-round pick in Pitt receiver Jonathan Baldwin, and Bowe should be due a solid payday soon if he proves last season’s stellar performance wasn’t a fluke. And with McCluster entering his second season and the return of veteran Jerheme Urban, Kansas City is already much-improved over 2010.

The top-end options at receiver come with their own issues.  Jets receivers Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards both come with their own baggage, and the Vikings’ Sidney Rice only posted one solid season before suffering through an injury-plagued 2010. Despite these flaws, there will be plenty of teams willing to drive the price up for these players.

If Kansas City wants to add some more weapons to Matt Cassel’s arsenal, receivers like New Orleans Saint Lance Moore or New York Giant Steve Smith would be ideal. Both are solid performers who are more likely to come with a smaller price tag—particularly Smith, as he is currently recovering from microfracture surgery. Santana Moss would be an excellent option as well.

And while he might take some plays from second-year tight end Tony Moeaki, the soon-to-be-released Todd Heap would be an outstanding veteran influence for this young team. His pass-catching skills are nothing to be ignored, either.

Leave the Blockbuster Signings to Washington

Every team, whether it’ll admit it or not, fantasizes about signing Nmandi Asomugha. One of the premier talents in the game and an outstanding human being, Asomugha will seriously upgrade whatever team he joins.

At a projected $15 million per year price tag, though, Kansas City would be hard pressed to pony up that kind of money and balance the books with their other contracts. The same goes with other players looking for big-time payouts, like linebackers Stephen Tulloch or Paul Posluszny.

In fact, the only player that would likely make sense for a large contract would be the 49ers’ Aubrayo Franklin.  Kansas City has made due at nose tackle with Ron Edwards, but needs an upgrade if it wants to reach the next level defensively. Rookie Jerrel Powe could be that upgrade, but he’ll need time to develop.

Franklin could even be considerably overpriced. As the top available talent at a premium position, the amount of money required to sign Franklin could make him a reach for any team.

Stay the Course

Kansas City made great strides in 2010 thanks in no small part to smart, prudent free agent signings. Players such as Ryan Lilja, Shaun Smith and Thomas Jones were key pieces to the Chiefs’ playoff run last year.

The Chiefs need to hold on to the players that helped make last season happen. Smith is the type of player to go the extra mile for defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel—much like Eddie Kennison was with Dick Vermeil.

Casey Wiegmann beat out incumbent Rudy Niswanger at center, despite being 37 when the season started. If Wiegmann has any interest in playing in 2011, Kansas City would be foolish to let him play elsewhere. Rookie Rodney Hudson is nearly of identical build to Wiegmann, and could learn volumes spending one season behind an undrafted lineman with over 9,000 consecutive snaps in 143 starts.

Most importantly, Kansas City needs to stick with its game plan. Kansas City has brought in plenty of talent through the draft and needs to retain them over signing pricey free agents—players like the “Brandon Tandem” at cornerback, Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr.

As the insanity of the lockout ends and this whirlwind of an offseason begins, the Chiefs’ front office needs to remember how they got to be the AFC West defending champions. Merely dabbling in free agency isn’t necessarily very flashy or exciting.

But it wins championships.