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A Kansas City Chiefs fan’s guide to start of NFL free agency

By Lyle Graversen

KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 03: Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, left, and general manager Brett Veach, right, watch pregame warmups prior to the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Arrowhead Stadium on November 3, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 03: Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, left, and general manager Brett Veach, right, watch pregame warmups prior to the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Arrowhead Stadium on November 3, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 10: JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Heinz Field on October 10, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 10: JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Heinz Field on October 10, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Wide Receiver

Ok Chiefs fans, this is where things get really interesting to me. The Chiefs are currently set to lose Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson in free agency. Those two were KC’s primary guys that played the #2 WR role over the past year or two. Pringle had some mild success and Robinson was at best an inconsistent contributor. So even if one of them was to return there is still a need in this offense for a better #3 receiving option behind Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Yes, Mecole Hardman is still a valuable weapon in the offense, but he’s clearly more of a gadget-type weapon than a true outside starting wide receiver.

So who could the Chiefs target in free agency to fill that need? Well, since this is the first position where I would label KC as having a major need to bring in outside talent I’m going to give you a short “shopping list” of options in order that I would prefer that KC sign them.

1. JuJu Smith-Schuster – This is the one that both seems like the best fit, plus we have some history of interest here as Smith-Schuster was reportedly considering an offer from the Chiefs last season before re-signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, Smith-Schuster has enough size to start on the outside but is also a good route runner, can run after the catch, and is reliable enough that he could be a nice “swiss army knife” receiver in KC’s offense. Plus, he’s only 25 so there could be a long-term fit here.

2. Odell Beckham Jr. – OBJ is a better receiving talent than JuJu Smith-Schuster, but I also worry more about his long-term potential in KC. While a three-headed monster of OBJ with Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce is tempting, OBJ really likes the spotlight. I worry that being the third wheel in a midwestern market just won’t appeal to him for more than a one-year title chase and now that he has a Super Bowl Ring that might not be what he’s looking for.

3. DJ Chark Jr. – DJ Chark isn’t the third-best wide receiver free agent, but he lands third on my wish list because of his combination of age, price tag, and how his upside matches what KC’s offense needs. Chark is a 25-year-old 6-foot-4 receiver with good deep speed. He put up a 73 reception, 1008 yard, 8 touchdown season in his second year in the NFL, but the rest has been a disappointment. Could Chark be a great physical weapon for KC on the outside that helps open up the offense for Hill and Kelce for years to come? Yes. Could he just be a bust that never realizes his potential? Yes, but if KC could land him at a reasonable price I would give him a shot.

4. Marquez Valdes-Scantling – Like Chark, MVS isn’t an elite proven talent, but he is a 6-foot-4 outside receiver with good deep speed and a history of big plays. If he couldn’t become a consistent contributor with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, I don’t know if he ever will be, but he would be a more affordable option than some others on this list that could be paired with someone like Byron Pringle to fill out KC’s wideout room.

5. Allen Robinson – Allen Robinson is a 28-year-old wideout with the size and profile to fill KC’s need for a starting outside receiver perfectly. The problem is that his production fell off a cliff last year in Matt Nagy’s Chicago offense. Was that because Robinson’s career is in a nosedive? Is that because Nagy just didn’t see him as a good fit in his system? I don’t know, but with Nagy being an Andy Reid protege who is now back on KC’s staff, either option makes me a little nervous for KC to shell out a big contract to him. Still, the physical tools and numbers from 2019-2020 are really tempting.

6. Christian Kirk – Christian Kirk isn’t a perfect fit for what KC’s offense needs in terms of a big outside receiver, but he is probably the best all-around receiver available after the other guys that have been mentioned. Kirk is 5-foot-11 and does his best work out of the slot. With Hill, Kelce, and Hardman all playing out of the slot as well at times you can see why this might not be the best match. Still, Kirk put up 77 receptions, 982 yards, and 5 touchdowns last season, so if KC feels like they can utilize him he would be worth the investment.

7. Sammy Watkins – If KC doesn’t like any of the free-agent wide receiver options as a long-term investment, they could always look to reunite with Watkins on a one-year deal. Obviously, his health will always be a concern, but he would know the offense, should be relatively cheap at this point in his career and could be paired with someone like Byron Pringle to help fill out the roster.

Now let’s move to the defensive side of the ball.

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