KC Chiefs: Under-the-radar free agent targets on defense
Cornerbacks
If the Chiefs end up working something out with restricted free agent Charvarius Ward, this could be a non-issue; otherwise, the Chiefs definitely need to add another starting corner to the mix with both Ward and Bashaud Breeland potentially hitting free agency. Here are a couple of options that might be possible for a discount.
I know that Peterson is the exact opposite of an under-the-radar free agent. He’s about as big of a name as you can get. However, I still think he could fit under this plan. Peterson is going to be 31 next season and he’s coming off what was probably the worst season of his career. Peterson actually had a worse PFF grade than either Ward or Breeland last season. You pair that with the potential drop in free agent spending this spring, and I really do think it’s possible that the Chiefs could sign Peterson at a much cheaper contract than what he would have commanded in the past.
Given Peterson’s age and drop off last season, I think a one year prove-it deal at a reasonable price makes a lot of sense and K.C. seems like the perfect place to do it. Peterson gets to prove he’s still a big time player on a team that gets a ton of national attention and he can chase a Super Bowl in the process. Plus, Peterson reportedly has a good relationship with former Cardinals teammate Tyrann Mathieu. If Brett Veach can make this happen at a reasonable price I think it could be the one “big name” move of the Chiefs offseason.
If the Chiefs want to go with a younger player with more long-term upside, former first round pick Sidney Jones could be an option. Jones was a bust for the Philadelphia Eagles who took him in the first round in 2017. Last year he went to Jacksonville where he played in nine games and started in six, and while it was a small sample size, he looked much better than his first three years in Philly. Jones is still just 25 years old ,and there is some real potential there.
Since Jones is still relatively unproven it would make him a bit of a gamble as a signing (especially since he has missed some time to injury as well), but it should also keep his price tag down, espeically this offseason. If the Chiefs like the upside and fit and aren’t scared off by any health red flags, he could be someone to target the same way they targeted Deandre Baker. There is some risk, but signing Sidney Jones could also be a possible steal at his age if they think they can help him live up to his potential.
So there you have it Chiefs fans. There are some possible free agent defensive players that the Chiefs could try to target to upgrade their defense without spending an arm and a leg. What do you think of this list? Do you like these players? Are there other players you think could be had relatively cheap that you like more? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments below.
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