Three moves Chiefs should make in free agency

The Kansas City Chiefs received encouraging news recently with the announcements that tight end Travis Kelce will return for the 2025 season and a franchise tag had been put on standout right guard Trey Smith.

However, the Chiefs still have many key positions to address through free agency and the NFL Draft. That includes offensive line after the report Wednesday that guard/tackle Joe Thuney will be traded to the Chicago Bears. (The deal cannot be processed until March 12, the start of the NFL's new league year.)

Teams can begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents starting March 10. With this in mind, which players should Kansas City pursue on the open market?

Re-sign WR Marquise Brown

Kansas City signed Brown last offseason to a one-year, $7M contract, per Spotrac.

Unfortunately for Brown and the Chiefs, the 27-year-old receiver suffered a dislocated SC joint in his shoulder in the preseason opener, an injury that sidelined him until December.

The 2019 first-round pick was supposed to be a complementary piece to wideouts Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. However, Rice suffered a season-ending ACL injury early in the season, forcing the Chiefs to turn to other options.

In two regular-season games, Brown had only nine catches for 91 yards. (He had two catches for 15 yards in the Super Bowl.) 

Per Spotrac, Brown — who could be a solid WR3 — has a calculated average annual value of $8M per season.

Sign pass-rusher Chase Young

Adding pass-rush depth is key because Charles Omenihu is an impending free agent and unlikely to return. GM Brett Veach has shown the ability to sign young, unproven players with the potential to outplay their contracts.

2020 second overall pick Young, who had 5.5 sacks last season for the Saints, falls into that category. The former Ohio State star was once coveted as the next great pass-rusher, but injuries have plagued him during his four-year career.

Nonetheless, Chase — who will turn 26 on April 14 — has the talent to produce solid numbers with a good supporting cast.

The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder could serve as a situational pass-rusher in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's system and a perfect complementary piece to linemen Chris Jones and George Karlaftis.

Per Spotrac, Young is projected to get a contract at a $17.5M average annual value.

Re-sign LB Nick Bolton

Retaining Bolton is going to be more difficult after Smith received the franchise tag. With the 25-year-old guard on the books for $23M, Bolton is much more likely to depart in free agency. (The Chiefs could still reach a long-term contract with Smith or trade him.)

However, losing Bolton — who will turn 25 Monday — would hurt Kansas City. Restructuring QB Patrick Mahomes' contract could be an avenue to open substantial cap flexibility and to retain Bolton. 

Per Spotrac, Bolton has an average annual value of $12.5M.