ESPN Gives Chiefs Free Agency Moves A C+

Dec 22, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Tyson Jackson (94) celebrates after a tackle in the first half against the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium. The Colts won 23-7. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN released their grades for how each individual NFL team did through the first few waves of free agency today and the Chiefs rank in the middle of the pack with a C+ grade. This grade was good enough to rank Kansas City on par with Seattle and above half of the other NFL teams.

Here’s a little bit of what each ESPN analyst had to say about the Chiefs’ moves. (Note: Insider access required to read ESPN’s article.)

"The Chiefs look like big losers in free agency, at least on paper. “They lost three starting offensive linemen on a run-first team with a quarterback who isn’t Aaron Rodgers,” Matt Williamson said."

False, the Chiefs lost two starting linemen. Assuming a line of Eric Fisher, Jeff Allen, Rodney Hudson, Rishaw Johnson, and Donald Stephenson, Kansas City will have five offensive linemen who started at least one game for them last season. Four of the five started at least seven games. This isn’t to say losing Brandon Albert, Geoff Schwartz, and Jon Asamoah doesn’t sting, but it isn’t as if the Chiefs lost 52 starts from their offensive line either.

Next…

"“[Emmanuel] Sanders would have been a perfect complement to Dwayne Bowe,” Louis Riddick said, “but I am good with what they are doing overall. Andy Reid knows what it is like to chase success in free agency and see what happens. They will be methodical. They players they lost, so what? [Dexter] McCluster is good. The other guys they lost aren’t going to hurt them. I like the [Vance] Walker signing, and he will give them much better value than [Tyson] Jackson even if Jackson had signed in Atlanta for the same money, which he did not.”"

I’d value Geoff Schwartz over Dexter McCluster but his point still stands. Additionally, his thoughts on Tyson Jackson could not be more accurate. Kansas City’s defensive line should be much better in 2014 against the pass.

Finally…

Polian, never a fan of profligate free-agent spending during his run as a GM, commended the Chiefs for sound cap management.

"“It’s better than you think from a football standpoint,” [Bill] Polian said. “They added role players. They let go some highly paid big-name role players who were underperforming and brought back guys who were correctly paid and no worse than the guys they lost. On balance, pretty good.”"

Strong words from Polian on the guys the Chiefs lost. Clearly he does not think much of Albert, McCluster, Schwartz, Asamoah, and Jackson. Doesn’t mean he’s right but maybe there is a chance we were overvaluing some of these guys because we are fans of the team and the players (except for Jackson).

What do you think, Addicts? Is a C+ a fair grade?  Too high or too low?