13 February 2024
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — The Kansas City Chiefs will be looking to be the first team in NFL history to three-peat next season and they will try and bring back some key pieces along the way.
Two defensive franchise cornerstones will be on the free-agent market for Kansas City, along with some other key names. Here’s a full list of players set to be free agents this offseason:
DT Chris Jones
CB L’Jarius Sneed
S Deon Bush
DE Mike Danna
LB Willie Gay Jr.
S Mike Edwards
TE Blake Bell
G Nick Allegretti
WR Mecole Hardman
QB Blaine Gabbert
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
WR Richie James
RB Jerick McKinnon
DT Derrick Nnadi
LT Donovan Smith
P Tommy Townsend
LB Drue Tranquill
T Prince Tega Wanogho
LS James Winchester
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach will have some decisions to make, with his main focus on bringing back Sneed and Jones, who both had excellent seasons.
Jones earned his fifth All-Pro selection this season and was a dominant force throughout the playoffs, continually creating pressure and collapsing the pocket.
Sneed is coming off of a year where he seemed to be snubbed of an All-Pro selection as he allowed zero touchdowns and bottled up number-one receivers all season.
Veach said his top priority in the offseason will be bringing those two back. Sneed is available for the franchise tag.
“Sometimes I look at our situation, and I’m like, ‘I don’t know how we’re going to do this,’ but we usually work through things systematically and have a list of the priorities,” Veach said via ESPN. “Certainly, Chris and LJ are at the top of the list.”
It will also be intriguing to see what the Chiefs do with other key players such as Willie Gay and Drue Tranquill. The Chiefs arguably had the most underrated linebacking core in the NFL this season.
CEH and McKinnon will also bring questions about what the Chiefs will do with the RB room behind Isiah Pacheco. Could both come back?
Hardman, the Super Bowl hero, is interesting because he could also be back due to his speed and familiarity with Reid’s offense. He and Patrick Mahomes have developed chemistry over the years.
The decision on Townsend is also something to look out for, as he has been one of the league’s best punters.
Veach will have a ton of decisions to make this offseason as the Chiefs will look to reach a mountain top no other NFL team has seen.