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The 5 best free agent signings in Kansas City Chiefs history

By Kelly Thompson

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 11: Len Dawson #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs huddles up with his offense against the Minnesota Vikings during Super Bowl IV on January 11, 1970 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl 23-7. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 11: Len Dawson #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs huddles up with his offense against the Minnesota Vikings during Super Bowl IV on January 11, 1970 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl 23-7. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 14: Running back Priest Holmes #31 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball during the game against the Detroit Lions on December 14, 2003 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won the AFC West as they defeated the Lions 45-17. (Photo by Dave Kaup/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 14: Running back Priest Holmes #31 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball during the game against the Detroit Lions on December 14, 2003 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won the AFC West as they defeated the Lions 45-17. (Photo by Dave Kaup/Getty Images) /

2.) Priest Holmes

The Chiefs have enjoyed a long string of strong running back play dating back to the early 1990s. Despite that streak of good luck, the Chiefs signing of Priest Holmes was one of the greatest free agent acquisitions in franchise history.

Holmes played for four largely unremarkable years in Baltimore after joining the team as an undrafted rookie free agent in 1997. In those four seasons, Holmes rushed for a hair over 2,000 yards and was merely a part of the committee approach out of the backfield in that time.

Everything changed when the Chiefs made him the focal point of their offense. Holmes rushed for more than 1,400 yards in each of his next three seasons, make three straight Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro selections in that time. He also added nearly 2,000 yards receiving in that stretch. His production during those years accounts for over 6,500 yards total from scrimmage.

Holmes was with the Chiefs from 2004-07, too, but injuries changed the player he was and he never returned to form. In those four seasons he played in only 19 total games, and missed the entire 2006 season.

Even still, for putting up one of the greatest three-year stretches of production in NFL history, Holmes gets the nod here at No. 2.

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