NFL free agency begins with the “legal tampering period” on Monday — and gets into full swing when the new league year begins on Wednesday. We’vealready listed a free agent for each of theKansas City Chiefs’ defensive positions. Now let’s consider the team’s offense.
RB Ty Johnson, Buffalo Bills
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I don’t see a starting running back in the free-agent pool, so I looked for an upgrade over Samaje Perine on third downs.
Johnson — a utility third-down back who can block and catch — would be that. Against the Detroit Lions last year — a defense centered on man coverage — Johnson had 114 receiving yards. He’s more dynamic than Perine and could give quarterback Patrick Mahomes a better dump-off option.
WR Tim Patrick, Detroit Lions
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Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy represent the future of Kansas City’s wide receiver room — so I looked for an X receiver who can win one-on-one against man coverage, win on downfield plays and run intermediate routes over the middle.
Wideouts like Davante Adams could do that at a high level — but I’m not sure that an X receiver is that kind of a priority for the Chiefs. The team needs a player who can get around 50 catches, 600 yards and a handful of touchdowns. A player like that is pretty easy to find.
Patrick could fill this role. While he isn’t the same player he was before his Achilles injury, he’s still a big wide receiver who can win against physical coverage and contested catches. He’ll be 32 this season, making him an ideal bridge to an X receiver taken in the draft. The 2025 class has plenty of Day 2 options that could help Kansas City in the future.
TE Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
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2025’s tight end class is not the class to sign anyone.
So I looked for an inexpensive player who can block when the Chiefs want to go under center. That’s something Conklin can do.
In reality, the Chiefs need to draft a tight end.
LT Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens
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I’ve made an effort to avoid listing star players. But at left tackle, I have to make an exception. If the Chiefs are going to sign a free-agent left tackle, they should just pay Stanley.
I don’t necessarily love this idea. Stanley is 31 years old — and has a concerning injury history. As recently as 2023, he was unable to handle a full workload; Baltimore was rotating him in and out of games. While Stanley played at a top-5 level last season, the question remains: is that sustainable?
In the back of my mind, I can’t get over a lingering feeling that if the Ravens are letting him go, they know he can no longer play at a high level. But after some deliberation, I believe the Chiefs may have no other choice. This group of free-agent left tackles isn’t going to get Kansas City very far; I wouldn’t feel great about the Chiefs paying any of them. So if they have to sign one, I think it’s better to take a chance on a legitimate top-5 player.
If the Chiefs could sign Stanley to a two-year, fully guaranteed deal, that would unlock their 2025 draft. Right now, their two glaring needs are at left tackle and running back — and the latter position can be filled in later rounds. With Stanley in place, Kansas City could go into the draft with a true “best player available” approach — something it can’t usually do because of the team’s roster needs.
G James Daniels, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Now that the Chiefs have traded left guard Joe Thuney to open up cap space, they’re likely looking at cheaper options there. So Daniels — now coming off an Achilles injury — would be a one-year flier.
When he is healthy, Daniels is a really solid starter. He’s a big, long guard who can mash people in the running game, so his acquisition would give the Chiefs two big, physical guards who can help them run the ball under center and between the tackles.
While Daniels is not a pass protector like Thuney, that will matter less if Kansas City can get a solid left tackle. I like the idea of building the running game through the interior — and keeping a firm pocket. I understand the injury concerns, but Daniels is only 28 — and has a solid track record. As a one-year swing, I think he makes sense for the Chiefs.
QB Unknown
If the Chiefs do not re-sign Carson Wentz as their backup quarterback, it’s anyone’s guess what they will do. We’re talking about a team that brought in Chad Henne and Matt Moore as backup quarterbacks.