Chiefs free agents likely to return
Byron Pringle, Wide Receiver (ERFA)
The fact that Pringle is an ERFA essentially guarantees he’ll be staying, unless the Chiefs do not want him under any circumstances. Since joining the Chiefs as an undrafted rookie free agent prior to the 2018 season, Pringle has carved out a nice role for himself as a special teams ace who makes big play consistently for Dave Toub’s units.
In 2020, he also played a larger role in the offense, seeing the field regularly in the absence of Sammy Watkins, and winning over the support of WR1 Tyreek Hill. With both Watkins and Demarcus Robinson likely leaving as unrestricted free agents themselves, Pringle’s continued growth in the offense, and his projected low contract numbers, will likely keep him in K.C. in 2021 (and beyond).
Mike Remmers, Offensive Lineman (UFA)
Despite the Super Bowl meltdown, many Chiefs offensive linemen played well in 2020, and that applies (perhaps most aptly) to journeyman Mike Remmers. The nine-year NFL veteran signed with Kansas City as a reserve tackle and ended up playing in 13 games, including 10 starts, this season with the injury to right tackle Mitchell Schwartz.
Remmers will be 32 when the season starts and could be signing his last NFL contract this spring. He’ll likely look for a raise and an additional year over what he signed to come to Kansas City (1 year, $1.05 million), but should stick with the team in the 2 year, $3.5 million range.
Austin Reiter, Center (UFA)
The future of starting center Austin Reiter may depend on what Kansas City does in the NFL Draft this April, but Reiter is unlikely to be an early signee and Veach should be able to wait until after the draft to resign him. Can the Chiefs upgrade the center position of Reiter? Almost certainly. But, will they? Andy Reid loves consistency and seems loyal to vets and Reiter is both. He’s started 33 of 37 games since the start of the 2019 season, and he’s played reasonably well for the team in that span. The team is likely to keep him in the fold, barring the use of an early draft pick on a replacement.
Andrew Wylie, Offensive Lineman (RFA)
Retweet everything said above about Reiter and apply it to Wylie. Wylie has started in 40 games (including the playoffs) for Kansas City since joining the team in 2018. He provides good depth for the team and experience in the system that Andy Reid has traditionally valued. While we expect to see Kansas City upgrade its offensive line this year, we should also expect them to retain experienced depth on the roster moving forward. The fact that Wylie is a RFA, meaning that the Chiefs hold his leverage on the market, makes it seem easier for them to bring him back unless another team surprises Wylie with a larger offer.
Taco Charlton, Edge Rusher (UFA)
While injuries limited Charlton to only seven games for Kansas City in 2020, it could come as a benefit to Veach when he tries to re-sign him. Charlton flashed some of his former first-round ability in limited playing time, including recording two sacks and four quarterback hits this season. Because he failed to put up consistent production, however, he’s likely to once again be available for a one-year, discounted rate contract. This seems like the sort of low-risk, high-reward resigning that the Chiefs have consistently made over the last several years.
Damien Wilson, Linebacker (UFA)
With just a $3.2 million salary in 2020, Wilson represents a low-cost veteran with starting experience who Kansas City is almost assuredly looking to sign. The expectation will be that Anthony Hitchens and Willie Gay, Jr. will take the majority of the reps at linebacker in 2021, but Wilson provides important veteran presence in the linebacker’s room and on the field for the Chiefs. With the expectation that the team upgrades from reserve linebacker Ben Niemann this offseason, it would be surprising to see them angle for more turnover in the room, especially given that Wilson is likely to return for a relatively modest salary.
Bashaud Breeland, Cornerback (UFA)
After an offseason arrest, Chiefs starting cornerback Bashaud Breeland had trouble finding suitors on the free agent market, and returned to Kansas City on a one year, $3 million deal. Breeland played in only 11 games this season, and was relatively effective. However, he did not necessarily play himself into the contract upgrade the 29 year old might have hoped for. With the Chiefs again looking for another young upgrade in the cornerback room, look for them to give Breeland another one year deal with similar money to ensure experience and depth at the position.
Daniel Sorensen, Safety (UFA)
In what feels a bit like a broken record, the Chiefs value Sorensen’s veteran presence and playmaking ability. Sorensen is often a liability in coverage, but with Juan Thornhill returning to form at season’s end, ideally the 8th-year pro isn’t asked to do that as much moving forward. Despite that limitation, there is no denying that Sorensen is a valuable member of the defense with a knack for making big plays at crucial moments. Unless he gets a bigger offer elsewhere, look for the Chiefs to bring back their veteran safety on a two-year, $8 million deal.
Nick Keizer, Tight End (ERFA)
Keizer was cast into the TE2 role in 2020 and seemed to develop well throughout the season. Certainly the Chiefs could use a bigger receiving threat in this role, but with the exclusive rights condition only requiring Kansas City to offer the league minimum here, even if they did sign a receiving threat to fill the TE2 role moving forward, it seems likely they’d bring Keizer back in a reserve role.
Alex Brown, Cornerback (ERFA)
Brown appeared in six games (including the playoffs) in 2019 and no games in 2020 for Kansas City after tearing his ACL in the preseason and spending the year on Injured Reserve. It seems like a near certainty that the Chiefs bring back this ERFA, with so little cost necessary to do so.
Darrel Williams, Running Back (RFA)
‘The Barrel’ showed flashes of really excellent play in 2020 while rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire was on the shelf, even in a reserve capacity while spelling him in the postseason. The Chiefs would like to keep all three of Damien, Darrel and CEH. That may prove cost prohibitive and the team may end up having to choose between Damien and Darrel (they could cut Damien). Darrel’s restricted free agent label increases the chances they can keep him for less than market value, as teams may prefer to draft someone with higher upside rather than give up a draft pick to sign him—depending on what tender the Chiefs apply here.