The NFL free agency feeding frenzy has officially calmed down, and most of the big money has been spent at this point. While there may still be a significant deal or two made between now and the NFL Draft, most of the remaining players are going to have to settle for affordable one-year deals as teams try to fill out the rest of their roster with the little bit of cap space they have left. That definitely fits the approach of the Kansas City Chiefs, who still have plenty of roster spots to fill but not a lot of cap space to work with.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is known for wanting to go into the draft with as few holes on his roster as possible so that he can feel free to draft whichever players he believes are the most talented, regardless of position. After last season's disappointing results, the Chiefs are attempting a substantial roster overhaul without having a lot of cap space to work with. Consequently, despite some quality early signings, the Chiefs still find themselves with plenty of holes on the roster.
If Brett Veach would like to patch a couple more holes on defense, there are plenty of veterans with proven starting experience who could be added without breaking the bank. Fortunately for Veach, two positions where there are still plenty of options are defensive end and cornerback, where Kansas City could certainly use more depth and competition.
Veteran FA defensive ends that fit the Chiefs
Jadeveon Clowney
While Clowney may be 33 years old, he still put up solid numbers for the Dallas Cowboys last season. He finished the season with 8.5 sacks and was solid against the run as well. While his asking price may be higher after a strong season in Dallas, he played for just $3.5 million last year, and it is highly doubtful anyone will offer him much more than $5–8 million at his age. At that price, he would be a worthwhile investment for Kansas City, even if they plan on drafting an edge player early in the draft.
Cam Jordan
Cam Jordan is obviously still a big name in the NFL, and he did put up 10.5 sacks last year. However, he will turn 37 before the season starts and probably isn't suited to be a true edge player at this point in his career. Still, pairing him with Chris Jones for one season, when they both have some inside-outside versatility, would be fun for Steve Spagnuolo. If he signs for a number similar to the $5–8 million it may cost to sign Clowney, it would be worth it for the extra veteran leadership and pass rush help, even if he is more of a rotational player. We also know that Chris Jones would be a fan of the move.
Preston Smith
If you're looking for an even cheaper option who could be part of Kansas City's edge rotation and provide some veteran stability, Preston Smith could be a good fit. He has the size and length that Spagnuolo prefers and is still a good run defender at 33 years old. His sack numbers have dropped off over the last couple of years, but his Pro Football Focus grade last season was still better than that of Charles Omenihu, Mike Danna, and Ashton Gillotte. Plus, he would likely sign for the veteran minimum at this point in his career.
Veteran FA cornerbacks that fit the Chiefs
Rasul Douglas
If the Chiefs wanted to sign a veteran corner to compete with Nohl Williams and Kristian Fulton to start on the outside this season, Rasul Douglas would be the clear best option available. Douglas has the size and physical style that would fit right in with Kansas City's preferred play style at the position. He was also PFF's 24th-highest-rated cornerback last season despite being 31 years old. Douglas has started at least 13 games in each of the last three seasons and played for just $1.5 million last year. He's probably looking for a raise after a solid 2025, but should still be in Kansas City's price range.
Fabian Moreau
Moreau would be an even cheaper option than Douglas, which would probably slot him more as a depth piece and potential starter if Williams or Fulton missed time. He also has the size to play on the outside in Kansas City's system and is known for being strong against the run. He has experience starting over his nine years in the league but wouldn't demand starter money. Plus, he seems like the type of corner that Dave Merritt could get the most out of and could be seen as a steal afterward.
Jack Jones
Jones started across from Rasul Douglas in Miami last season and was a solid starter, but probably not strong enough to warrant guaranteed starter money. Jones is smaller than Kansas City's ideal outside starter (5'11"), but he's scrappy and also plays the run well. Like Moreau, Jones could be affordable enough to serve as Kansas City's insurance corner on the outside if Williams and/or Fulton don't pan out.
The Chiefs could definitely use some insurance at both defensive end and cornerback before heading into the NFL Draft, so that Brett Veach wouldn't feel obligated to target either position early if the board falls in favor of others. Signing one of these veteran defensive ends and one of these cornerbacks would do just that and give the Chiefs affordable options to fill out their defense. Here's to hoping that Kansas City is able to figure something out before the NFL Draft arrives or other teams snatch up the best veteran options still available.