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2024 Kansas City Chiefs free agents: Targets, draft needs and more as free agency nears

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2024 Kansas City Chiefs free agents: Targets, draft needs and more as free agency nears


Coming off of their third Super Bowl win in five years, the Kansas City Chiefs will have some roster decisions to make as the new league year approaches.

The back-to-back champs have 19 players set to hit unrestricted free agency, including several of its top performers on the defensive sides of the ball. Among them are defensive lineman (and the team’s 2023 co-leader in sacks) Chris Jones as well as starting cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who led the team in passes defended and interceptions.

Though the Chiefs are currently 16th in the NFL in cap space – according to Over the Cap – there will be some significant roster changes to come as free agents join and depart ahead of the NFL Draft.

Here’s everything to know about Kansas City’s free agency situation.

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2024 Kansas City free agents

Unrestricted free agents

In order of percentage of snaps played, per Over the Cap:

  • CB L’Jarius Sneed
  • EDGE Mike Danna
  • IDL Chris Jones
  • OT Donovan Smith
  • LB Willie Gay, Jr.
  • S Mike Edwards
  • LB Drue Tranquill
  • IDL Derrick Nnadi
  • IDL Tershawn Wharton
  • P Tommy Townsend
  • LS James Winchester
  • RB Jerick McKinnon
  • TE Blake Bell
  • RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
  • WR Mecole Hardman
  • WR Richie James
  • IOL Nick Allegretti
  • QB Blaine Gabbert
  • S Deon Bush
  • OT Prince Tega Wanogho
  • LB Darius Harris

Restricted/exclusive rights free agents

  • LB Jack Cochrane
  • EDGE Malik Herring
  • IOL Mike Caliendo
  • LB Cole Christiansen
  • S Nazeeh Johnson
  • TE Jody Fortson

Potential Chiefs NFL Draft targets

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon

Middlehurst-Schwartz writes, “[Franklin’s] deep speed and run-after-catch ability would add vital explosiveness to a passing attack that has grown far too stale.”

Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

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Sikkema writes, “Coleman’s… an incredibly gifted athlete, but his game lacks consistent separation. Still, his talent level is too high for a team like the Chiefs — who desperately need an alpha X receiver — to pass up.”

Garrett Podell, CBS Sports: T’Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas

Podell writes, “Sweat is dominator against the run as his primary value is stuffing the middle of the line of scrimmage.”

Chad Reuter, NFL.com: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State (trade up to pick 25)

Reuter writes, “Selecting receiver Rashee Rice last year in the second round was a nice start, but the Chiefs’ inconsistency at the position could force them to trade up for another top-tier talent.”

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Damian Parson, The Draft Network: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Parson writes, “Rashee Rice has proven to be a WR1 in the making for the Chiefs, but he needs help. Xavier Worthy is a quick route-runner with immense explosiveness and speed.”

When does NFL free agency begin?

March 11: The NFL’s legal tampering period begins at noon ET. According to the NFL’s official operations website, this is when teams are allowed to begin negotiating contracts with players that are set to become free agents.

March 13: NFL free agency officially begins at 4 p.m. ET. All contracts that end after the 2023 season expire, and teams and players are allowed to execute new contracts. This includes deals agreed to during the tampering period becoming official.

When is the 2024 NFL Draft?

Where: Campus Marius Park at Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan

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When: April 25-27, 2024

Cable TV: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network

Streaming: NFL+; ESPN+; fuboTV

How to watch: Catch this year’s NFL Draft with a Fubo subscription



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KC police shooting follows NE Kansas City domestic assault call

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KC police shooting follows NE Kansas City domestic assault call


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A domestic assault call in Northeast Kansas City turned into a police shooting.

Kansas City officers responded to 41st and North Wheeling Avenue just north of the river just before 9 p.m. on March 23.

When a man inside the home grabbed a knife, an officer opened fire.

The suspect was not hit and is now in custody. The woman is being treated for injuries.

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Missouri State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation, which is standard procedure when a KC officer fires their weapon while in the line of duty.

Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.



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Kansas City Chiefs OL Trey Smith recalls his 2021 NFL Draft experience

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Kansas City Chiefs OL Trey Smith recalls his 2021 NFL Draft experience


Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Trey Smith has emerged as one of the best guards in the league with his consistent and intimidating play.

The two-time Pro Bowler appeared on former Chiefs center Mitch Morse’s live podcast, In Good Company with Mitch Morse, last Thursday. He responded to a special guest question from Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. regarding his 2021 NFL Draft night memory. 

“What I remember about my draft night was terrible, to be honest. You know, night one, I knew I wasn’t going. Day two, I thought I was gonna get picked, but I didn’t, and I remember being a little emotional with my dad, just upset,” said Smith, “Just like, Dang man. You know it’s gonna happen. You came back to college for another year, but you had blood clots. Still, you’re not getting drafted where you thought you would. On that third day, you’re legit. It was just like, Okay, I’m being drafted, but I have one opportunity, and I don’t care. It could be anywhere. It’d be the worst team in the league, as long as I get one opportunity to prove myself, and when I’m working, that’s all I want. That’s all I needed.”

Smith was selected in the 6th round, 226th overall, due to concerns about his health history. The Chiefs looked past that as he described the emotional phone call moment.

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“I remember getting that phone call from Kansas City. Was one of the doctors just like, “Hey, Trey, I told you I’ll call. I remember telling, blunt, straight up. Like, yeah, what’s up? He chuckles. He’s just like, well, we’re gonna make you the newest member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Here’s our owner, Clark Hunt, Mr. Hunt, popped on the phone. I snapped out of the funk, right? Oh, it’s real. Is this happening? Like, oh, it’s happening,” said Smith. “So I remember just being so excited, like, no one was in my house except for my sister, so I’m celebrating with her in the living room. I call my dad. He’s like, Man, I’m so proud of you. It’s unbelievable, Kansas City, man. He’s like, “Hey, I’ll be home in 10 minutes. I got chicken tenders on. I’m bringing home lunch. So it was like a calamity, but it was amazing. At the same time, I wouldn’t change a thing about it.”

Smith continues to be an impactful part of the team’s success, becoming a two-time Super Bowl champion and ranking among the NFL’s elite interior offensive linemen.



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St. John’s beats Kansas at buzzer in March Madness thriller to reach first Sweet 16 since 1999

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St. John’s beats Kansas at buzzer in March Madness thriller to reach first Sweet 16 since 1999


SAN DIEGO — Church Bells arrived at the perfect time.

Dylan Darling, the Idaho State transfer in the midst of a massive shooting slump, sent St. John’s to the Sweet 16 with a buzzer-beating, right-handed layup at the horn after the Johnnies had blown a 14-point lead.

Darling strutted after it dropped and was immediately mobbed by his teammates after clinching this dramatic 67-65, second-round victory over Kansas at Viejas Arena.

Darryn Peterson had pulled the Jayhawks even with 14.1 seconds left, and they were able to use four fouls to stall St. John’s because it was under the limit.

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With 3.8 seconds left, St. John’s inbounded the ball to Darling, and he drove in for the game-winning basket. They were his only points of the game.

Dylan Darling drives to the basket for the game-winning shot during the St. John’s win over Kansas on March 21. Getty Images

In mid-February, after Darling hit a game-winning 3-pointer at Xavier, Pitino joked that he had “balls the size of church bells.”

Boy, was he right.

St. John’s will meet Duke in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Washington, D.C., its first trip to that round since 1999.

Dylan Darling celebrates after hitting the game-winning basket March 22. Charles Wenzelberg

Zuby Ejiofor led St. John’s with 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists, and Bryce Hopkins also had 18 points.

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Ian Jackson had 10 off the bench.

Peterson scored 21 for Kansas.

The Red Storm have won 21 of their past 22 games.

For the first time in five games, St. John’s didn’t start on a big run.

Dylan Darling celebrates after hitting the game-winning shot March 22. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Red Storm reeled off an 11-0 run to take an early eight-point advantage.

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They made three of their first four 3-point attempts, but then went ice-cold.

Dylan Darling is pictured during the St. John’s game March 21. Getty Images

St. John’s went 5:45 without a point, and Kansas tied the game on the strength of a 9-0 burst.

Hopkins ended the drought with a 3-pointer that hit off the back rim and fell through.

Joson Sanon and Ruben Prey added 3s to help the Red Storm take an eight-point lead into halftime.


CHECK OUT THE LATEST BIG EAST STANDINGS AND ST. JOHN’S STATS

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Against bigger Kansas, St. John’s let it fly from deep, making 7 of 23 in the opening half.

They average 21 per game this season.

A major factor in the opening half was Bidunga being limited to 12 minutes due to two early fouls.

Zuby Ejiofor dunks the ball during the St. John’s game against Kansas on March 22. Charles Wenzelberg

Defense carried the Johnnies over the first 20 minutes.

They held Kansas to 34.5 percent shooting and forced nine turnovers, which led to 12 points.

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Peterson hit his first two 3-point attempts but scored only nine points in the first half on 2-for-6 shooting.

St. John’s methodically pushed the lead to 10 by the under-12 timeout as it continued to handcuff Kansas.

The Jayhawks had as many turnovers (four) as made field goals over the first 8:21 of the second half.

When Mitchell scored on back-to-back possessions, St. John’s lead had ballooned to 14.

Only 8:51 remained between the Johnnies and a Sweet 16 berth.

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They didn’t know at the time how dramatic those final minutes would be.



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