2016 Chiefs free agency: Part 1

Let me start today’s column with an apology. If you hadn’t noticed, I’ve been on a hiatus from Arrowhead Addict for the past five weeks. I’ll spare you the sordid details, but suffice it to say that it’s FICA job related. I needed some time to adjust to more responsibilities (read: management) on my 9-to-5. We shan’t let that spoil my return though.

The new league year approaches and it’s time for the Kansas City Chiefs to get their house in order. The open free agency period begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 9. What better time than now to take our annual look at the players who might be available to help this team come September?

This piece is typically a two-parter and it’ll be no different this time around. Today, we’ll focus on the offensive side of the football, but before I delve into players possibly shaking free from other teams, let’s look at pending free agents at One Arrowhead Drive. The most notable names with expiring contracts are: Chase Daniel, Jeff Allen, Donald Stephenson, Jason Avant, and exclusive-rights free agent Charcandrick West.

If I were to rank the outbound players from most-to-least important, it’d go like this:

Jeff Allen

The fourth-year man out of Illinois makes arguably the best case for a contract extension. Coming into 2015, Allen’s career had mostly been mired in mediocrity, but this past season was decidedly different. The Chiefs’ offensive line situation was fluid throughout the season due to a rash of injuries.

Allen was one of a precious few reliable pieces over the course of the year. He played at a high level at both guard and tackle for Kansas City. His line versatility makes him a key part of this offensive line’s future. Let the record show that I’m in favor of re-signing Allen for a contract that falls somewhere between those earned by former Chiefs guards Geoff Schwartz (four years, $16 million) and Jon Asamoah (five years, $22.5 million).

Charcandrick West

West would otherwise be the top player on this list, but as an exclusive-rights free agent, he has no external negotiating power. Players designated as EFAs are only “free” in the sense that they are free to take a year off from the NFL. Should the Chiefs tender him, he either re-signs with the them or takes a hiatus of his own for the next 12 months. That said, I’d expect them to tender him at a second-round level.

Next: The rest of the offensive pack...