Kansas City Chiefs: Five free agent targets for the offense

The Kansas City Chiefs need to fill some holes on offense. While fans love signing big name players, here are five realistic signings they should make.

The NFL offseason is upon us. Alas, there are no more football games to be played for the next six months (ouch, that hurt to write). It is now time for fans everywhere to turn their attention to what moves need to be made by their favorite team in hopes that it eventually leads to that elusive Super Bowl win.

The Kansas City Chiefs have already had an eventful offseason, and the new league year hasn’t even begun yet. The Chiefs’ agreement to ship starting quarterback Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins means that the Patrick Mahomes era is now officially upon us. While that move alone is enough to revitalize the offense, it is not the only move that needs to be made.

While it would be fun to dream of the Chiefs scooping up every talented free agent available, that simply isn’t feasible given K.C.’s salary cap situation. Yes, they have created some space by trading Smith and releasing Darrelle Revis and they can create more space with some additional moves, the Chiefs will still be working with a limited free agent budget. This is especially true if they want to keep themselves from getting right back into cap issues again and limiting their ability to re-sign their talented core of players in years to come.

So when I set out to make my wish list of players for the Chiefs to sign, I’ll warn you in advance that it isn’t a star studded list of household names. If you want to argue that the Chiefs need to bring in a bunch of new “stars” then I’ll listen to your argument, I just don’t know that it’s feasible. I’ve broken my list into my five targets for both the offense and the defense. This week you’re getting the offensive list and next Monday I’ll debut my list of defensive targets.

So without further ado, here are the five offensive signings I think the Chiefs should make this offseason.

1. Re-Sign Fullback Anthony Sherman

I know, this isn’t a move that is going to get a lot of people very excited. Fullbacks are becoming less and less popular in today’s NFL. Sherman himself has seen his use drop over Andy Reid’s tenure in Kansas City. However, I’m not ready to go without just yet.

More from Arrowhead Addict

• Former Chiefs cornerback in legal trouble in Las Vegas
• Chiefs Kingdom: Get ready to break contract news
• Chiefs news: Travis Kelce wants to host fan ‘chug-off’ in Germany
• Podcast: Breaking down the Chiefs biggest roster battles
• KC Chiefs send Dave Merritt to NFL coaching accelerator

While I’m super excited about Patrick Mahomes and think he’ll have an excellent first year as a starter, I still believe it will be vital to give him a balanced offense and that means running the football. While Kareem Hunt certainly proved he can create his own yards, there are still times where you want to give him a lead blocker. Plus, I’m counting on the return of Spencer Ware giving the run game a little boost as well. Ware is a great between-the-tackles runner. Having Sherman on the roster would give the Chiefs the option of running some smash mouth plays late in the game with Ware and Sherman if they are protecting a lead—especially if they don’t want to put a bunch of wear and tear on Hunt.

Plus, with Alex Smith gone the Chiefs have a little less veteran leadership on the offensive side of the ball. Retaining Sherman would give the offense one more returning veteran to help make sure things transition smoothly for Mahomes. Not to mention that with Andy Reid’s notoriously huge playbook. it means that you have another guy out there that already has the playbook mastered.

Now, I’m not willing to break the bank for Sherman, or any fullback for that matter. So if Sherman is looking for some huge payday then the Chiefs will have to pass. However, given the NFL’s shift away from the fullback position I just don’t see there being a huge market for Sherman. Therefore, I think it is reasonable to believe that the Chiefs could sign Sherman for less than the $1.75 million that he made last year. If that’s the case, then I think this is a no-brainer.

2. Sign Trey Burton, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

I don’t know how likely this move is, but I would absolutely love it for the Chiefs. I have never been a big Demetrius Harris fan. I don’t need to belabor that point, but I would love it if they upgraded the number two tight end spot this offseason. I think Philly’s Trey Burton would be an absolutely perfect fit. Obviously, Burton enjoyed some widespread media attention for being the guy that threw the touchdown pass to Nick Foles in the Super Bowl, but that has nothing to do with why I want him in Kansas City.

Well, I guess you could say it indirectly does, because part of the reason it would be a natural fit is because he would be coming from the Philadelphia Eagles and coach Doug Pederson, which means he would already have a basic understanding of Andy Reid’s offense. What I really love about him though is his versatility. He was a jack of all trades at Florida where he played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, and special teams at one point or another. At 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds Burton certainly isn’t a big blocking tight end, but I think Andy Reid would have a field day moving him all over the field and creating mismatches with both he and Travis Kelce in the lineup.

While Burton hasn’t put up big numbers in the NFL yet, he has flashed enough potential as an offensive weapon that he may be looking to go somewhere where he has a shot to be the number one tight end. Similar to Sherman, if the Chiefs have to get into a bidding war for Burton’s services, then they are probably better off drafting a new tight end than breaking the bank for one when they already have Kelce as their clear top guy. However, if they can sign Burton at the going rate for a number two tight end, then I think he could absolutely flourish in Andy Reid’s offense, especially with Patrick Mahomes at the helm. Burton’s athleticism would be a nightmare for linebackers in coverage and as Mahomes extends plays, I could easily see him breaking free and making plays on the fly.

3. The return of Chase Daniel

This move makes so much sense, I can’t understand why I haven’t heard any big time NFL guys mention it. The Chiefs need a veteran guy to back up Patrick Mahomes. Chase Daniel is a free agent that spent three years in Kansas City and knows Andy Reid’s offense. It seems clear at this point that nobody is signing Daniel to compete for their starting spot. If you’re going to take a back up job then why not go back home and play for a great offensive coach in Andy Reid who needs a veteran quarterback to be there for his young starter?

Daniel spent this last season back in New Orleans (where his NFL career started) but the Saints have to be looking for a young quarterback to groom as Drew Brees successor at this point. So if the Saints let him get away then this move simply has to happen. Daniel won’t break the bank and gives the Chiefs exactly what they need. I’m not buying the talk of guys like Case Keenum and Josh McCown. Those guys are going to want a chance to start plus they don’t know Reid’s offense. Daniel is 100% my top choice for the Chiefs to sign as their number two quarterback and nobody else is even close.

Make this happen Brett Veach.

4. Re-sign Albert Wilson

Confession: I was a very vocal critic of Albert Wilson before this past season. I didn’t see it. He was an undersized wide receiver that didn’t fight for the ball in the air. I pushed for the Chiefs to play other guys over him—a lot.

I was wrong.

Last season Albert Wilson proved himself to be an essential part of the Kansas City offense and a legit playmaker. I was already sold on bringing back Wilson before the week seventeen game where he and new starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes showed great chemistry as Wilson racked up 10 catches and 147 yards. I went into that game assuming it would be Mahomes and Demarcus Robinson that would rekindle their preseason magic. It really opened my eyes when it was Wilson that Mahomes clearly trusted above everyone else that was playing that day.

Wilson set career highs for receptions, yards, and touchdowns last season and if his chemistry with Mahomes against the Broncos is any indication, there is certainly reason to believe those numbers could continue to go up again next season. If you’re still not sold on Wilson, here are some other numbers to consider…

I really want the Chiefs to bring Wilson back and give Mahomes another target that he is already familiar with and knows the offense. If he starts the season with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Albert Wilson, and Chris Conley as well as his weapons out of the backfield there is simply no reason this offense can’t start the season firing on all cylinders. Wilson has earned a solid contract after his season last year and I hope the Chiefs are the ones that give it to him.

That’s something I never thought I’d write before last season.

Finally, my number one target for the Chiefs this offseason.

5. Sign Andrew Norwell, OG, Carolina Panthers

While Carolina Panthers guard Andrew Norwell certainly isn’t a household name, he is definitely the biggest free agent on my wish list. If the Chiefs were to open up their pocketbook for any player this offseason, I believe it should be Norwell. He is pretty much universally viewed as the best offensive guard on the market and he is only 26 years old.

The Chiefs already have a significant amount of money invested in the offensive line with Eric Fisher, Mitchell Schwartz, and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif so I don’t know how realistic it is that they would come out the top bidder for the best guard available in free agency, but I would 100% back them doing it. The Chiefs have lacked power and attitude on the interior of their line and that is exactly what the 6’6, 325 pound Norwell would bring to the table.

Plus, unlike other big dollar free agents, with Norwell you wouldn’t be paying a guy for what he did in his prime years, you would be getting his prime years. The Chiefs have two amazing young offensive talents in Patrick Mahomes and Kareem Hunt that could be the centerpiece of this offense for years to come. Signing Norwell would literally be investing in Mahomes and Hunt’s long -erm success.

I feel like Norwell’s addition would be the most significant of any player that is available this year in free agency. Bryan Witzmann simply cannot be the starter at left guard next season. So while the rest of the offensive players on this wish list aren’t huge names on the free agent market, I recognize that this one is. Brett Veach would have to be aggressive and go out and get this guy before another team does.

Fingers crossed that Veach feels the same way that I do!

Next: The Chiefs, Pats should meet in Week 1 (again)

So what do you think Chiefs fans? Do you like my list of offensive signings to make? Were you hoping for something a little more “splashy”? Are there any of the guys on my list that you wouldn’t approve of K.C. signing? Do you feel there is another signing out there that makes more sense than any of my picks? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

As always, thanks for reading and GO CHIEFS!!!!