Chiefs rumors: John Dorsey will stay busy even without a free agent splash
By Matt Conner
Restricted free agents
Cairo Santos is the most accurate field goal kicker in Chiefs history is a free agent. He’s also super young and ready to get paid more than the relative peanuts he has been earning from the Chiefs.
Daniel Sorensen filled out the stat sheet in sub package duty last year, and has yet to earn the acclaim he deserves playing behind Ron Parker and Eric Berry. But the Chief are plenty aware of just how much the former undrafted free agent brings to the table and have positioned themselves to keep him.
Albert Wilson is also an undrafted free agent who has ascended the depth chart to become a favorite of general manager John Dorsey, who has spoke glowingly of him at times. Unfortunately, Wilson faded last year as there were simply too many other options in the passing game.
All of these players are restricted free agents who have been given a qualifying offer. Sorensen was given a second-round tender, while the other two were given original-round tenders. Every one of the aforementioned players can sign with any other team, just like a regular free agent. However, the Chiefs have the right of first refusal and can match any offer.
In addition, a team signing Sorensen away, if allowed to walk, would owe the Chiefs a second round pick in the draft (hence the name “second round tender”). Santos and Wilson are both original round tenders, which given that they are undrafted free agent signings, which means the Chiefs receive no draft compensation for their loss.
If these players all remain unsigned by other teams, they return to the Chiefs on non-guaranteed deals worth a slotted amount pre-defined by the NFL. For Sorensen, it would be $2.7 million. For Santos and Wilson, they would each make $1.8 million.
Dorsey will have to decide which offers he wants to match, if any, or whether it’s worth taking the draft pick in Sorensen’s case.