The Morning Fix: Free Agency Edition

The Chiefs have the cap space to be a lively participant in this year’s free agent chase and have repeatedly voiced intent to create competition throughout the roster.

Kansas City is currently $32.5 million under the salary cap according to numbers released by the NFL over the weekend. That number takes into account the $9.515 million franchise tag Kansas City slapped on WR Dwayne Bowe last week and a reported three-year, $19.6 million contract free agent CB Stanford Routt signed with the team last month.

The Chiefs have the cap space to be a lively participant in this year’s free agent chase and have repeatedly voiced intent to create competition throughout the roster.

Kansas City is currently $32.5 million under the salary cap according to numbers released by the NFL over the weekend. That number takes into account the $9.515 million franchise tag Kansas City slapped on WR Dwayne Bowe last week and a reported three-year, $19.6 million contract free agent CB Stanford Routt signed with the team last month.

– Up in Denver, former NFL receiver Brandon Stokley revealed on Monday that he and Manning had a short throwing session in a Denver park last Saturday morning. Stokley is a good friend of Manning, played with him in Indianapolis and was at Duke University a couple weeks ago when Manning held some extensive throwing sessions.

“I saw him for three days at Duke and he was the only quarterback (throwing to four or five receivers) and he threw a ton of balls for three straight practices and the guy looked to me like he did when I was there six years ago,” Stokley told the Post. “He threw on Saturday here on a little field and maybe because he had some rest, I think he looked better than he had last week.”

– Denver media is also reporting that contract talks have begun between Broncos and Manning’s agent Tom Condon.

Still, with Manning apparently out of the picture, expect the Chiefs to continue to look at quarterbacks this offseason, albeit on a lesser scale. Candidates include Kyle Orton, Jason Campbell and Chad Henne. If the Chiefs are looking for a pure backup for Cassel, Brady Quinn could be an option.

I could also see the Chiefs looking at Branden Weeden or Kirk Cousins if they are available when the Chiefs pick in the second round.

The Chiefs will add a quarterback this offseason. The only question is whether Cassel will be truly pushed or not. Of course, had the Manning pursuit worked out, Cassel might have been pushed right out of Kansas City.