Chiefs free agency: How KC uses cap space from L’Jarius Sneed trade | Top Vip News

On Friday night, the Kansas City Chiefs reportedly traded cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans. Once Sneed’s $19.8 million franchise salary comes off the team’s books, we estimate the Chiefs will have around $26.5 million in cap space.

An upcoming article will look at what Kansas City can do to replace Sneed’s role in the secondary. Let’s look at other ways the Chiefs can use the cap space they’ve created to fill out the roster.

Re-sign remaining internal free agents

Immediately after the trade, ESPNJeremy Fowler, one of the most trusted league experts covering Kansas City’s front office, suggested the team may seek to bring back two contributors to last season’s Super Bowl win: defensive end Mike Danna and tackle Donovan Smith.

Both moves would make sense.

The Chiefs appeared to have adequately planned for Danna’s departure in free agency by drafting two pass rushers last offseason, including using the 31st overall pick. Kansas StateIt’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Unfortunately, Charles Omenihu’s torn ACL in late January puts his status to start the season in doubt. Even if Anudike-Uzomah or fifth-round pick BJ Thompson prove ready for rotational roles, the Chiefs will likely still need to fill Omenihu’s snaps for much of the season.

Few expected Danna, coming off a career year in his fourth season, to remain unsigned two weeks into free agency. At this point, his best chance may be to return to the Chiefs on a one-year deal to improve their 2025 free agent stock.

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While the Chiefs likely hope Wanya Morris, last year’s third-round pick, proves worthy of starting at left tackle, his readiness is far from guaranteed after an up-and-down six-game stretch as a rookie. Smith would offer a veteran competitor to force Morris to earn the job.

Heading into the draft, the Chiefs could find some interesting tackle prospects available late in the first round. However, they probably won’t realistically be able to draft a tackle who would be a Week 1 upgrade over Morris to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. Smith’s presence would allow the Chiefs to identify a prospect with starting left tackle potential while also allowing time for development.

Solidifying the wide receiver room

The Chiefs’ only notable outside addition since the start of free agency has been a one-year pact with wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Now that the Sneed situation is resolved, they may make another move at wide receiver after the unit’s struggles in 2023.

Although free agency has largely come and gone, some intriguing pass catchers remain on the market, likely hoping to catch up with a contender.

In 2020, the Chiefs reportedly tried to sign wide receiver Josh Reynolds before choosing the Titans. Now, back on the market after spending the last two seasons with the Detroit LionsThe 6-foot-3 Reynolds’ skills would be a solid compliment to Brown and second-year wide receiver Rashee Rice in a revamped room.

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

The Chiefs appear to have flirted with the idea of ​​signing veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr., once among the league’s biggest stars, to a two-year deal. Beckham began his seemingly annual free agent tour this week visiting he Miami Dolphins. There has never been a more realistic opportunity for a Beckham-Kansas City pairing if the Chiefs are legitimately interested.

Free agency remains deep among pass catchers. Former Cincinnati Bengals Receiver Tyler Boyd is still searching for his next team. Ancient titans and New York Jets Receiver Corey Davis also recently ended his one-year retirement and is supposedly looking for a new team.

While this year’s draft is loaded with wide receivers, the Chiefs should take this opportunity to sell one of their remaining veteran options upon arriving in Kansas City for 2024. With the defense likely to take at least a small step back In Sneed’s absence, raising the floor for the offense will be crucial.

Expand key players

The Chiefs will face more key free agent decisions a year from now as linebacker Nick Bolton, center Creed Humphrey and guard Trey Smith see their rookie contracts expire. All offensive linemen are covered by a single franchise tag number, set by increasing salaries at left tackle. The linebacker franchise tag number is similarly skewed by monstrous salaries for edge defenders in 3-4 defenses. Because of this reality, none of these players are realistic candidates for the tag.

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If the Chiefs want to retain the services of one or more of Bolton, Humphrey and Smith, they will likely need to negotiate contract extensions this offseason. After players received league-mandated raises proven performance escalatorThe new deals may actually reduce your existing cap figures.

However, the Chiefs’ calculation to move on from Sneed may have been driven by more than just salary cap considerations. The Chiefs may have wanted to use some of the nearly $20 million he was scheduled to earn in real cash to sign bonus payments to at least one of their pending 2025 free agents.

The bottom line

The Chiefs have developed incredible depth in recent drafts. Sneed presents the first of what will be multiple instances of the Chiefs prioritizing overall roster flexibility over a second contract for a fan favorite.

With the funds now available, the Chiefs are expected to retain one or two contributors from last season, make another move to bolster the offense and give at least one extension to one 2021 draftee.