Arrowhead Addict
FanSided

The best free agents still available for Kansas City Chiefs

By Lyle Graversen

Los Angeles Rams' Odell Beckham Jr. (R) celebrates with a teammate after scoring a touchdown during Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on February 13, 2022. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams' Odell Beckham Jr. (R) celebrates with a teammate after scoring a touchdown during Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on February 13, 2022. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 8
Next
Jan 17, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) runs the ball ahead of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson (20) during the first half in the NFC Wild Card playoff football game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) runs the ball ahead of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson (20) during the first half in the NFC Wild Card playoff football game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Wide Receivers

This is the area of this piece that I’m scared could be completely irrelevant by the time you read it. With the Dallas Cowboys trading for Branin Cooks and the Carolina Panthers signing Adam Thielen in the last 24 hours, it feels like the wide receiver market is in such flux right now and the Chiefs are at the top of the list to make a move.

Could that include trading for Deandre Hopkins? Maybe, but assuming nothing has changed from when I’m writing this here are their options if they go the free agent route.

The Big Name: Odell Beckham Jr.

The Chiefs are reportedly one of the main teams in on OBJ. He’s 30 years old now, didn’t play at all last season, and in the two seasons prior to that, he only combined for 77 receptions. Is that the kind of player you rely on and pay to be a major part of your offense? Probably not, but what OBJ can do is catch the ball.

So if Beckham is fully healthy and was playing in a pass-first offense with a good quarterback, he would likely still produce. It doesn’t sound like there is a big bidding war for Beckham based on his tweets, so if he does take a reasonable deal somewhere, then K.C. could have a shot. Given the lack of exciting options that follow, this may not be a bad gamble to take for Brett Veach if the price is right.

Starting Caliber Receivers: DJ Chark

The Carolina Panthers brought in Chark along with Thielen on a visit with rumors that they wanted to sign both. That makes sense because after OBJ they’re about the only starting caliber wideouts left in free agency. Chark is younger and has more upside at this point, but he also is a bit of an overlap with Marquez Valdes-Scantling from a skillset standpoint for the Chiefs.

Familiar Faces: Mecole Hardman, Sammy Watkins, Byron Pringle, Damarcus Robinson, Justin Watson

The Chiefs may decide to bring one of these former Chiefs back to fill out their depth at the position. Hardman would be by far the most appealing option, but he doesn’t fit the empty JuJu role and would overlap skillset-wise with Kadarius Toney. Watson was a valuable end-of-the-depth chart guy last year and may make sense. The other three don’t seem very appealing unless they don’t bring Watson back and just need a 5th/6th receiver that knows the system.

The Best of the Rest: Marvin Jones, Nelson Agholor, Jarvis Landry, Julio Jones, Olamide Zaccheaus, Trent Sherfield, Mack Hollins, Isiah McKenzie

I’ll be honest with you, none of these guys really move the needle for me. Marvin Jones, Jarvis Landry, and Julio Jones could possibly help fill the JuJu role if they can stay on the field, but K.C. would need to limit their snaps and just hope it works out. Zaccheaus and Sherfield have flashed a little and might be worth a flier. Frankly, I’ll be worried if any of these guys go into the season with an important role for the Chiefs.

Next up, tight end.

Home/Kansas City Chiefs Free Agency