K.C. Chiefs: Identifying the best remaining free agents on the market

Safeties

The Chiefs safety situation is interesting because technically they have two high quality starters in Tyrann Mathieu and Juan Thornhill. However, because Mathieu is such a unique chess piece that Steve Spagnuolo moves all over the field, there is really room for a third starting safety on the roster. That role had been Dan Sorensen’s but there are better options out there in free agency right now. A guy like Denver’s Kareem Jackson is the best one available, but his price tag will probably be more than K.C. would want to spend on a third safety. These options might be about perfect though.

Tashaun Gipson

Tashaun Gipson started all 16 games last season for the Chicago Bears and was solid all the way around in both coverage and against the run. Gipson will be 31 when next season starts and has already played for the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, as well as the Bears. At this point I think the veteran journeyman might like the idea of being a significant contributor to a Super Bowl contender like the Kansas City Chiefs.

Gipson is listed at 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, so he could play the role of run support safety if they wanted to drop Thronhill back and have Mathieu lined up in the slot. He also has the coverage skills to pick up running backs and tight ends better than current free agent Dan Sorensen. While Gipson would definitely cost more than Sorensen, he shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg (especially given the safety market this year) and would be well worth it for the upgrade to the defense.

Jaquiski Tartt

Jaquiski Tartt is another good size safety who could contribute to both the run and pass defense for the Chiefs. The 6-foot-1, 215 pound Tartt is an imposing player and has been a contributor for the San Francisco 49ers for the past six seasons. He’s never started more than 12 games in a season, but has been a constant role player and contributor.

Tartt simply has much better physical tools than someone like Sorensen, who may be “scrappy” but was often beat in coverage or a non-factor in run support. Tartt will likely be affordable and would be an instant upgrade to that third safety spot for the Chiefs. He’s the type of underrated signing who could really pay off for the Chiefs as a season plays on, especially if Mathieu or Thornhill ever missed any time.

Fall Back Option: Karl Joseph

Look, I appreciate the plays Dan Sorensen has made at times over the past few seasons, but I refuse to put him on this list. There are just better options out there. Karl Joseph may not have lived up to his draft position, but he’s an intense heavy hitter who could add a little thump in run support. He may have issues in coverage sometimes, but no worse than Sorensen did and Joseph brings more support (and intensity) to the run game.

So there you have it Chiefs fans, my list of free agents that are still available that could upgrade the Chiefs roster from where they are now. Do you like the list? Are there guys that you think should be on it that I left off? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments below.