Kansas City Chiefs: Much Ado About Wide Receivers
Agents Who Are Anything But “Free”
Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Luckily, three of the top-10 potential free agents available this offseason are wide receivers, according to NFL.com.
Those three players are Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, and Randall Cobb. Honorable mentions also include Jeremy Maclin, Michael Crabtree, and Torrey Smith.
Of course, these players’ respective teams will not simply let them walk out of the front door. Many will likely be re-signed or franchised before being allowed to become free agents. However, given the number of quality receivers who need new contracts, it wouldn’t surprise me if at least one or two of them became available. If the Chiefs managed to find a way to create the cap space after signing Justin Houston, I would take anyone on that list. But two names stand out.
To me, the most intriguing name out of that group is one that Chiefs fans know and despise: Demaryius Thomas.
Yes, I admit that I am partly intrigued simply by the concept of watching Thomas catch touchdowns at Sports Authority Field while wearing a Chiefs jersey. I can just imagine the scowl on John Elway’s face watching that happen. But more to the point, Thomas fits the Chiefs’ style of play.
As the article describes, “[f]or opposing defensive backs, there’s no scarier sight than Thomas with the ball in his hands and a full head of steam coming off a bubble screen.” Basically, he excels at the type of offense that Andy Reid has loved to run since he was in Philadelphia.
With 111 receptions, 1,619 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns, profootballreference.com ranks Thomas as the second-best receiver in the league last year.
Unfortunately, those stats make make him a prime candidate for the franchise tag should Denver fail to reach a deal with him. However, according to Sportrac, the Broncos have seven starters that are set to hit free agency, which also include Chris Harris and Julius Thomas. Unless Peyton Manning decides to start paying off all of these players on the side in order to make one last Super Bowl push, someone is going to be a victim of the NFL cap. It is unlikely that victim will be D. Thomas, but there may be a possibility the Chiefs get a shot at him.
After Thomas, Maclin seems the next best fit to me.
Aside from the fact that he was previously drafted and coached by Reid, Maclin possesses great speed that allows him create separation or evade the secondary on a short pass. Either way, it works for Alex Smith’s preferences.
Maclin does not get quite the notoriety that Thomas does—and has missed some time with injury—but is still a high-quality player. Last season, he managed to post 85 receptions, 1,318 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns behind Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez splitting time. That was good enough to be ranked 16th in the league by profootballreference.com.
Maclin too is a candidate for his team’s franchise tag, as he is the best receiver on a club that recently let DeSean Jackson go to a divisional rival. The Eagles are not facing a derth of starters set to become free agents like the Broncos are, but Philadelphia is in the midst of renegotiation with star running back LeSeasn McCoy. Rotoworld reports that McCoy has stated he is not willing to take a pay cut and that Maclin’s negotiations have also “hit a snag” after switching agents. If the Eagles decide to pay McCoy, then his hefty cap hit might force Maclin to the open market.
If that happens, the Chiefs should pounce on the latter.