John Dorsey’s FA Plan: Decisive & Frugal
Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
So far, so good.
We’re still six hours from the start of the NFL’s free agency period and general manager John Dorsey has already done most of the heavy lifting. He agreed, in principle, to send the 34th overall pick and a conditional 3rd round pick in 2014 to San Francisco for quarterback Alex Smith. The reported compensation was a bit too high for my liking, but he wasted no time in answering the quarterback question. Dorsey went on to franchise left tackle Branden Albert and re-sign wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (5 years, $56 million) and punter Dustin Colquitt (5 years, $18.75 million). Those three transactions actually all took place on the same day (Monday, March 4th).
The Chiefs’ new GM also re-structured defensive end Tyson Jackson’s contract, cutting his 2013 compensation by more than $10 million. That’s quite a haul within a span of just six days, but he still wasn’t finished. Dorsey added former Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson to the Kansas City secondary for a modest three-year $15 million contract. I thought this team had five problem areas heading into the offseason (QB, DE, WR, ILB, and CB). Four of those positions have at least been partially addressed and the new-look Chiefs are well on their way to digging themselves out of the AFC West’s cellar.
More reports about John Dorsey’s free agency plan surfaced over the weekend. Jason La Canfora (of CBS Sports) was told by league sources that the Chiefs are working on a new deal to retain right defensive end Glenn Dorsey. If he’s not signed by 3pm this afternoon, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent. Kansas City believes there’s a place for him in Bob Sutton’s 1-gap scheme. He’s expected to use both 3-man and 4-man fronts. That’s good news for Glenn Dorsey, as he’s probably better suited for the 4-3.
The league’s unofficial start to free agency began at Midnight on Saturday, March 9th. The Chiefs quickly took advantage of the 87-hour contact period by getting in touch with the certified agent of cornerback Sean Smith. Just nine hours later, it appeared that the team was no longer interested in Smith. Smith’s contract expectations appear to be the reason why the Chiefs lost interest so soon. Reports suggest that he’s looking for a deal that will pay him $7-8 million per year. It’s now apparent that the Chiefs don’t intend for Dunta Robinson to start opposite of Brandon Flowers, but Sean Smith seems to be off their radar.
Thus far, there’s been a sense of urgency at One Arrowhead Drive, but John Dorsey seems to be unwilling to overspend to reshape this team. That’s a refreshing change and a great way to start a new regime. If I had to guess, I’d say that the Chiefs have a few more tricks up their free agent sleeves. This football team could go into April’s draft with only a few major needs. Unfortunately, one of them is likely to be along the offensive line. Right tackle Eric Winston was unexpectedly cut last week. Chiefs Kingdom won’t like this, but that re-opens door to Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel as an option for Kansas City’s #1 pick.
If we’ve learned anything over the past week, it’s that this administration is unpredictable. I have no idea what to expect from Reid and Dorsey as the NFL offseason ramps up, but here’s a shortlist of free agents I think the Chiefs should consider:
Runningback:
- Danny Woodhead, Patriots
- La’Rod Stephens-Howling, Cardinals
Wide Receiver:
- David Nelson, Bills
- Danny Amendola, Rams
Tight End:
- Martellus Bennett, Giants
- Brandon Myers, Raiders
- Jared Cook, Titans
Right Tackle:
- Phil Loadholt, Vikings
- Gosder Cherilus, Lions
Inside Linebacker:
- Brad Jones, Packers
Cornerback:
- Chris Houston, Lions
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Eagles
- Cary Williams, Ravens
Safety:
- LaRon Landry, Jets
- Patrick Chung, Patriots
The next six weeks should be very interesting. The speculation about what the Chiefs have planned for their top draft choice is at a fever pitch and only figures to continue with each new signing. More answers are forthcoming for the organization though. In a few short hours, we should know a bit more about what Dorsey and the Chiefs have in mind. Let’s reconvene next week to talk about what the Chiefs got done.
Until next time, Addicts!