Chiefs free agent targets post Sneed trade
Tyler Brown
Other than not wanting to commit top-of-the-market money to an older-ish cornerback, the biggest part of the L’Jarius Sneed trade was the $19.8 million gained from it. The Chiefs still had over $6 million in cap space before the trade, so the trade can only make sense of this trade if they make a multitude of moves with the available free agents.
In 2023 the Chiefs signed defensive end Charles Omenihu, linebacker Drue Tranquill and safety Mike Edwards for a total of less than $10 million against the cap. In 2022 Kansas City traded Tyreek Hill and added safety Justin Reid and wide receivers Marquez Valdez-Scantling and Juju Smith Schuster to a similar amount.
While it is arguable with a player of Sneed’s caliber, the addition of multiple players can be more valuable than any single player in a vacuum, as has been shown with a legend like Hill. The question now becomes, what additions would make the trade worth it in 2024?
Many suspected bringing back defensive end Mike Danna would have happened by now, but the Sneed trade has not been announced as official yet, so the Chiefs do not officially have the increased cap room yet. Other than an addition like that, it is entirely plausible that the Chiefs wait till after the draft to round out their free agency class, much like how the Chiefs came about signing left tackle Donovan Smith last season.
General manager Brett Veach may wait and see what his clear needs are after the draft before he ponies up money to free agents. With the new 2025 Tennessee Titans third-round draft pick, the Chiefs may use that as ammo to move up to get the left tackle of the future or a better wide receiver than what would be there otherwise at pick 32.
It makes sense not to bring back Donovan Smith or bring in Mekhi Becton until after the draft because if the Chiefs take a left tackle early on, those guys might not even start, for example. The same can be said about taking a wide receiver early in the draft. Although, you could make the argument the Chiefs need wide receivers galore.
By rule of thumb, Veach does like to fill needs in free agency so he can operate on a best-player-available basis in the draft. I suspect the Chiefs will make some moves before the draft.
The first move the Chiefs should make is bringing back Danna. It is more than likely that Omenihu will be out for part of the season after tearing his ACL in the AFC Championship game. 2023 first-round draft pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah is set to have his workload increased a ton, but he has a slighter frame, so it would be wise to bring a guy like Danna back.
Danna can set the edge opposite of defensive end George Karlaftis and he can kick inside when they bring Anudike-Uzomah into the game. The only question is if they sign Danna to a one-year or a multi-year deal.
Left tackle is probably the next largest need, as 2023 third-rounder Wanya Morris is penciled into that spot currently. He was far from a train wreck when he saw the field, but he did not show enough to warrant handing him the job without competition. I do, however, expect the same approach as 2023, waiting till after the draft to know if they need to bring anyone in.
The Chiefs' biggest splash of the offseason thus far was the addition of Hollywood Brown. He and Rashee Rice can comfortably be wide receivers one and two but behind them are filled with question marks. Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney and Justyn Ross are all under contract, but all are cut candidates as well. The Chiefs would take any one of them as their wide receiver four, five or six, but they do need a third reliable receiver, especially given Brown’s injury history.
The Chiefs will likely take a wide receiver in the first or second round but that should not shy them away from adding a cheaper veteran on a one-year deal. Someone like Tyler Boyd or Odell Beckham Jr. might be too pricey for a wide receiver three or four but a good route runner like Hunter Renfrow might make a ton of sense here. He and Mahomes could make for a third-down machine. They could take a flyer on a veteran like Michael Thomas or Michael Gallup as well and Mecole Hardman remains out there if they want to bring him back for specialty packages.
Then there is the cornerback position that is void after the loss of Sneed. I think the Chiefs are comfortable with Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson as the starters when they are in nickel formations. Safety Charmarri Conner has slot corner experience as well and Nazhee Johnson has impressed the Chiefs brass.
The only way the Chiefs make an addition at the corner position is if it is on the cheap. Stephon Gilmore is still really good, but he still made nearly $10 million last season. Xavien Howard is 31, but he is a defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo prototype. He has made a lot of money in his career, so if he wanted to come to Kansas City to win, that is a possibility. Adoree Jackson is an opportunity here as well. It is still most likely the Chiefs roll with the group they have and perhaps even draft another, something they have proven to be good at.
The tight end, interior offensive line, defensive tackle, linebacker and safety rooms appear to be mostly set after returning a flurry of their own already this offseason. That pretty much just leaves the backup quarterback spot and the running back position.
The Chiefs will more than likely simply bring back Blaine Gabbert for the QB-two slot unless they want to take a flyer on former starters, Ryan Tannehill or Carson Wentz. There have been whispers of wanting to get more athletic at backup, so Tannehill or even a quarterback like P.J. Walker would fit that mold.
Running back could go several different directions and I imagine they will draft one. With Pacheco being the only one returning in 2024, it would make sense to bring in a veteran. Pacheco runs hard and with that comes injuries. They also need to replace Jerick McKinnon, who has served as their third down back as a reliable pass-protector for the past three seasons.
Free agent running backs have already been picked apart this offseason, but J.K. Dobbins remains the one with the highest upside. Veterans Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliot are out there, but former superstars tend to be more expensive than what they are worth. They do pass-protect well, though. Of course, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is still available, but it is unclear what the likelihood of that reunion would be. McKinnon is out there, but it is possible he retires. Other than that, you are looking at the Kareem Hunt’s, Rashaad Penny’s, and Joshua Kelly’s of the world. The Chiefs need bodies here.
That brings us back to the question of how the Chiefs make the Sneed trade worth it in 2024. In a perfect world, the Chiefs make four or so signings of $5 million per year type of players. Assuming they do not draft a left tackle in the first round, a haul of J.K Dobbins, Hunter Renfrow, Donovan Smith and Mike Danna would make a lot of sense. Bringing in a veteran corner would be welcomed as well and a backup quarterback will have to be signed at some point.
With the expected elevated play on offense, the defense should be able to withstand the loss of Sneed. With the added cap space from the trade the Chiefs have a chance to round out their roster with depth they did not even have a year ago when they won their second Super Bowl in two years.
