If you have been worried that the Kansas City Chiefs have not done enough to improve their roster thus far in free agency, you can put your fears to rest.
Blake Bell is back, baby!
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Twitter Friday that Kansas City brought the veteran tight end Bell back on a 1-year deal.
The #Chiefs are re-signing TE Blake Bell to a 1-year contract, source said. This is his fourth season with KC.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 24, 2023
As Rapoport mentioned, this will be Bell’s fourth season with the Chiefs. Bell absolutely torched opposing defenses last year to the tune of two catches for 20 yards and a touchdown. He appeared in only three games in 2022 after being placed on IR due to an injured hip flexor he suffered during the preseason against the Chicago Bears. Bell missed most of the year but was designated to return from IR on December 20th. He caught each of his regular season passes in early January and chipped in a third reception for two yards in the Chiefs’ playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Bell has mostly served as a blocking option for the Chiefs during his time in Kansas City. He entered the league in 2015 and has 60 receptions for 641 yards in his career.
Here is the reaction from Chiefs Twitter:
Can confirm the Chiefs are re-signing Blake Bell on a 1-year deal (@RapSheet 1st).
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) March 24, 2023
The team keeps its top 4 tight ends from last year — in Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Jody Fortson & Bell — & could add another player at the position in the draft next month.
If you would've told me in 2013 that Blake Bell would have a nine-year NFL career at tight end, I would not have believed you. https://t.co/Y7ZsEc0g6u
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) March 24, 2023
Pat Mahomes
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) March 15, 2023
Travis Kelce
Chris Jones
Blake Bell https://t.co/H3lLidcqoz
Who breaks out first? 31 year old Blake Bell with one career touchdown or 28 year old Jody with 12 career catches
— Double Champ (@SullyFootball) March 24, 2023
Interesting from a "what will happen in the draft" standpoint. Gray is under contract and Fortson was brought back.
— Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) March 24, 2023
Makes it seem, on the surface, that they won't go TE in the draft. Can't picture a team carrying 5 TE's.
I'd love for them to grab one though. Good group. https://t.co/93MLMzIdKt
I am not sure if I agree with Seth, although I probably should because he is smarter than me. I could see a situation where Bell doesn’t end up making the team. Details to follow on his deal.
The Chiefs weren’t done making free agency waves with the Bell signing. They also inked DT Byron Cowart. Cowart was a 5th-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2019. The news was first mentioned by the agency JL Sports.
The Chiefs converted Mahomes money for Byron Cowart.
— Jinx (@smartest1here) March 24, 2023
Cowart started 14 games in 2020 for the Patriots before sitting out 2021 with an injury. He was signed by the Colts last summer and played a reserve role for them last season. He has one sack in his NFL career.
Cowart was considered a #1 recruit coming out of high school. His college career didn’t live up to his high school hype but he was still drafted by an NFL so he obviously has some talent.
The Chiefs Kingdom sure does love itself a rags-to-riches story so if Cowart just posts a video of himself running up that Hill that Justyn Ross ran up this week, he should be drawing comparisons to Aaron Donald by the end of the season.
Keep it here at Arrowhead Addict for more Kansas City Chiefs free agency news, Underwhelming or otherwise.