With the start of free agency less than a month away (begins officially on Tuesday, March 10), it’s finally time for us to take a look at what options Kansas City Chiefs’ general manager John Dorsey will have when the open free agency period arrives. For the sake of today’s article, we’ll skip over current Chiefs with expiring contracts (for my money, Justin Houston and Rodney Hudson are the only priorities on that list). This Tuesday afternoon, we’re looking for an external cure for what ails the Chiefs. Next week, we’ll explore the defensive candidates that may be available in the spring, but let’s look at offensive players for now.
Offensively, there are three spots where the Chiefs need upgrades (wide receiver, left guard, and right tackle). Sure, a healthy Jeff Allen can easily shore up a gaping hole at left guard, but he wasn’t exactly a world-beater before the elbow injury sidelined him in 2014. Adding genuine competition there could help solidify pass protection on the left side (something the Chiefs desperately need as left tackle Eric Fisher continues to try and find his way). Ryan Harris was serviceable as a fill-in at right tackle, but he’s also slated to become a free agent in a few weeks. The Donald Stephenson experiment may be over in Kansas City. Lastly, no position has commanded more attention than the wide receiver spot and its historical ineptitude last season.
Let’s jump right in and talk about who might be on John Dorsey’s watch list:
Wide Receiver
1. Randall Cobb (Packers)
John Dorsey had a hand in selecting Cobb in the 2011 NFL Draft. The four-year man out of Kentucky just completed the best season of his young career (turning in 91 receptions for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns). There’s some talk that Cobb will stay in Green Bay, but a report released yesterday suggests he could be looking for a contract in the $9 million per year range. Cobb is a good fit for Andy Reid’s west coast offense. He’s a sure-handed, quality route-running wideout with good speed and the ability to separate.
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