The Kansas City Chiefs could lose a ton of free agents in 2021

Linebackers

1. Damien Wilson
2. Ben Niemann

While Damien Wilson and Ben Niemann may not be high on the list of players that most Chiefs fans are worried about hitting free agency, it could leave the Chiefs with a shortage of linebackers that know the defense. Yes, the Chiefs just drafted Willie Gay, Jr. and that helps the future of the position, but the other starting spots are very much in question moving forward. Yes, Anthony Hitchens is under contract in 2021, but the Chiefs could also clear $6.5 million in cap space if they make him a post June 1st cut next offseason.

The Chiefs may need that cap space, but that would basically mean that Gay and the as-yet-unproductive Dorian O’Daniel would be the only returning linebackers. The Chiefs could draft someone, but they would have no experience. They could also hope to re-sign Wilson or Niemann cheap, but we’ve already said that about several other positions, and you can only do that with a few guys when you’re limited in cap space.

The Chiefs proved last season they could have a successful defense without an elite linebacking group, but you do at least need guys that know the system and are at least in the right place at the right time. While this group isn’t at the top of my list of worries in 2021, it is definitely a position group in need of upgrading and that could be hard on KC’s budget.

Finally, let’s look at the defensive backs.