Shopping for free agent quarterback options for the Chiefs

Those are some of the bigger-dollar options. Guys who may or may not think of themselves as starters at the present day, but offer the ability to do so at any given moment.

What about the next level down? What if KC chooses to keep their investments low at backup QB? Henne earned over $3 million in 2019, and Moore signed for $1 million. While the team would prefer to keep a veteran, here are a few other options that might be good value for minimal dollars.

Brett Hundley

The former backup to Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay spent 2019 in the desert with Kliff Kingsbury and the Arizona Cardinals. Known more for his ability to make plays with his legs, Brett Hundley rushed for 1,747 yards and 30 touchdowns in just three seasons at UCLA, while passing for almost 10,000 yards and 75 scores.

Hundley hasn’t played hardly at all since 2017, when he started nine games in Green Bay after Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone. While he didn’t blow anyone away with his performance, Hundley has tantalizing raw skills as an athlete and would be an interesting prospect to have learning from behind Mahomes.

Joe Webb

Joe Webb is a bit of a hybrid player who would be another chess piece for Reid. At 6’4″ and 230 lbs, Webb has great size and has displayed rare versatility getting reps at quarterback, wide receiver and kick returner in the NFL. The 33-year-old has only thrown seven passes since 2011, but if the team thinks he can still sling it, he would probably love a chance to play in Kansas City.

The vast majority of Webb’s experience as a passer in the NFL was under former Vikings and Chiefs coach Brad Childress, so Reid can get intelligence from one of his trusted friends on Webb if he has an interest. Webb runs a sub-4.5 40-yard dash so if the Chiefs were so inclined to use him in other places, they could make it work.

Blaine Gabbert

The 6’5″ 235 lb. Blaine Gabbert totally looks the part of a former top-ten pick. In fact, he is one. In 2011, the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up six spots in the draft to select Gabbert, and immediately released incumbent starter David Garrard. After three games, then-head-coach Jack Del Rio inserted the former Missouri Tiger into the starting lineup, but the rookie struggled mightily. After playing for three different head coaches in three seasons in Jacksonville, Gabbert was traded to San Francisco, who hoped to jumpstart his disappointing young career.

Fast forward to 2020, where Gabbert has literally played for a new head coach in every single one of his eight seasons in the league. Perhaps a trip to his home state of Missouri and some time with the best offensive mind in the NFL can stir up some of what made Gabbert a blue chip prospect in college.

At age 30, he still has great combination of speed and athleticism, and still has a cannon of an arm. Gabbert thrived in the shotgun in college and would get to play in a similar offense with the Chiefs. He would have a higher ceiling as a passer than most anyone else in his price range. The Chiefs could do a lot worse at backup quarterback than Gabbert.