My Chiefs Christmas List

Dec 21, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jason Avant (81) is tripped up as Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier (50) closes in during the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

#1. Re-sign OLB Justin Houston, C Rodney Hudson, WR Jason Avant and S Ron Parker

This will actually be easier than it looks. While his contract will be the topic of much discussion over the coming months, my crystal ball tells me that on July 15, 2015 he will officially be slapped with the franchise tag after several weeks of unfounded worry among Chiefs fans.

Hudson and Parker are a bit more interesting. Like a lot of the Chiefs 2014 free agents, they were no-name guys in years past but had great seasons this year and could generate a surprising amount of interest. But, assuming neither hates the team or has been leading a secret life of serial murder (this used to be a joke) they should be easier and better to re-sign than any potential alternatives.

Avant is the one we definitely wouldn’t have predicted would be a part of the group before this season. After just four games with the team after being picked off the stack of cut players, he is just 5 yards short of WR Donnie Avery’s production all year. Avery has been injured and out of a few games, sure, but he’s also been supposedly our starting #2 receiver for the year.

Thirty-one-year-old Avant, meanwhile, shows how much the Chiefs passing game can improve with the addition of just one solid NFL starter familiar with HC Andy Reid’s system.