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Former Chiefs who surprisingly remain available in free agency

By Jordan Mannix

SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Eric Berry #29 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on November 22, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Eric Berry #29 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on November 22, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – DECEMBER 24: Kelvin Benjamin #13 of the Buffalo Bills catches a touchdown pass as he is defended by Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots during the quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The touchdown was reversed after an official review. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – DECEMBER 24: Kelvin Benjamin #13 of the Buffalo Bills catches a touchdown pass as he is defended by Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots during the quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The touchdown was reversed after an official review. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Kelvin Benjamin

This entry is the least surprising. After all, Kelvin Benjamin was a Chief for what seemed like the blink of an eye. He was signed late in the season, played in three games and caught two passes on five targets. He was the type of low-risk, high reward signing for which Brett Veach has become known.

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Ultimately, the reward was small and the Chiefs decided to not re-sign him. The really surprising thing is that Benjamin does have stretches of significant productivity in the NFL.

In his rookie year with the Panthers in 2014, he eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving and caught nine touchdowns. After sitting out 2015 with an ACL injury, he had another productive campaign with 941 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. Unfortunately, from there his career took a nosedive.

Diminished production in 2016 led to the Panthers trading him, and he’s bounced around the league ever since. He has never really been able to recapture his early career success. While he is a big, seemingly athletic player, it’s likely there’s very little interest left for him. I don’t expect him to get anything more than a veteran minimum deal from a team who needs bodies for camp. Still the potential is there and for the team that can inspire him, it’s worth the risk.

Free agency is nearly four weeks in. Most of the desirable players who are going to sign lucrative deals have likely already done so. Whether that’s because market pricing has surged to unsustainable levels or the leftover players just don’t fit where the needs are is tough to say.

Where will these remaining Chiefs end up? Could any of them end up back with the Chiefs? Only time will tell. Some of them might have to wait a long time before the answers come.

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