7 realistic free agents the Kansas City Chiefs could sign in 2024
By Matt Conner
There are pipe dreams and measured takes. Let's tilt toward the latter and look at this year's free agent market.
On the one hand, it's realistic to think the Kansas City Chiefs could come up with a very big fish in free agency this spring. In years past, the Chiefs have announced quick deals for big-time linemen like Jawaan Taylor and Joe Thuney, so maybe general manager Brett Veach will have another major addition to announce here in a couple of weeks.
That said, the more obvious approach for the Chiefs this offseason is to focus on lower-level free agents—more realistic signings like role players who can help shore up roster weaknesses. Consider where the Chiefs would have been without safety Mike Edwards, linebacker Drue Tranquill or lineman Nick Allegretti.
Which free agents could serve as a similar type of addition for 2024? Here are seven realistic guesses at who could interest the Chiefs on the free agent market.
Zack Moss, Running Back
This is the year for real help in the backfield.
Yes, the Chiefs won a Super Bowl with a patchwork quilt at the running back position, but betting on Isiach Pacheco to be the bell cow for another 20+ game schedule when mixing in two shoulder surgeries in the same calendar year is not a recipe for sustained success.
At this point, Deneric Prince is unknown, Jerick McKinnon is old and injury-prone, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a free agent. It's time for a bit of reinvention here around Pacheco that brings both a new veteran presence in free agency as well as a (later) draft pick to make sure this unit stays effective with depth.
As for the veteran addition, Zack Moss is an ideal fit. He's a free agent now after spending time with the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts during his rookie contract. He made it clear last season that he could be a primary back when he sat in for Jonathan Taylor to start the year. After the first two months of the regular season, Moss was second to Christian McCaffrey in rushing yards.
Working in the Chiefs' favor is the fact that so many quality running backs will be flooding the market this spring, which could lead to a panic for some security while playing the game of musical chairs. The list includes Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Cam Akers, Austin Ekeler, Tony Pollard, Devin Singletary, Zeke Elliott, D'Andre Swift, A.J. Dillon, and more. Then again, Moss says he's also open to a return to Indy.
If it helps, the Chiefs showed some pre-draft interest in Moss before the 2020 NFL Draft. Adding Moss to the mix gives the Chiefs another workhorse to pair with Pacheco and give them a stable ready for a long and productive season.