Kansas

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

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2024

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.

NFL dynasty? Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs leave no doubt after third Super Bowl trip in five years

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

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.”

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

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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Kansas

Four teens hurt in southeast Kansas rollover – AOL

Published

12 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Four teens hurt in southeast Kansas rollover – AOL

Sun, May 10, 2026 at 7:03 PM UTC

Four teens hurt in southeast Kansas rollover

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Four teenagers are hurt after being in a rollover crash on Sunday.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said a 16-year-old girl was behind the wheel of a Jeep. She went off the road, hit a culvert and rolled.

The crash happened just after midnight near the intersection of North 150th and North streets, northeast of Girard.

Man dead after downtown Wichita shooting

Two 15-year-olds and a 13-year-old were passengers in the Jeep. All four teens were hurt and taken to the hospital after the crash.

The driver received suspected serious injuries, and the rest received suspected minor injuries.

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Detroit Tigers bested by Kansas City 5-1; Witt hits inside-the-park homer for Royals

Published

1 day ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Detroit Tigers bested by Kansas City 5-1; Witt hits inside-the-park homer for Royals

The Detroit Tigers were beaten by the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Saturday night.

Michael Wacha pitched seven scoreless innings, Bobby Witt Jr. hit an inside-the-park home run on a grounder and Michael Massey had a three-run homer for the Royals, who will go for the series sweep on Sunday night.

Witt hit the ball down the right-field line in the first inning that bounced off the wall and eluded right fielder Kerry Carpenter. Witt motored around the bases and beat the relay throw to the plate for a two-run homer.

It was the Royals’ first inside-the-park home run since Witt did it in August 2023.

Carpenter left the game later with left shoulder soreness.

Wacha (4-2) gave up two hits, walked two and struck out six. It was his longest scoreless outing since throwing eight scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox on April 11.

Burch Smith (0-2) took the loss. He retired only one of the four batters he faced, allowing two runs on three hits in one-third of an inning.

Massey’s homer in the fourth inning came with runners on first and third with two outs. He lined the ball over the right-center field fence for his third homer of the season.

Wacha had at least one strikeout in each of his first four innings. The Tigers loaded the bases in the fifth on a double, a walk and a hit batter, but Wacha got Matt Vierling to ground out to end the inning.

The Tigers scored in the eighth on a two-out double by Riley Greene.

Up next

The teams conclude the three-game series Sunday. The Tigers have not announced a starter, though manager AJ Hinch said it will be a bullpen game. Kansas City will send LHP Noah Cameron (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to the mound.

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Kansas

This Chiefs-Bears trade would land Kansas City it’s long-term Travis Kelce replacement

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

This Chiefs-Bears trade would land Kansas City it’s long-term Travis Kelce replacement

Bullet point summary by AI

The Chiefs are exploring long-term solutions at tight end beyond Travis Kelce’s expected 2026 retirement.
One potential move involves targeting a veteran player from a team transitioning to a new starter at the position.
The deal’s structure hinges on future playoff performance, creating a high-stakes incentive for both franchises.

While the 2026 draft is just in the books, it’s never too early to start thinking about the 2027 season — and if there’s one team that’s already looking that far ahead, it’s the Kansas City Chiefs.

Star tight end Travis Kelce is almost certainly retiring after the 2026 campaign despite an inflated new deal, and looking at the Chiefs’ depth chart, backup Noah Gray is not starting-caliber material. You could argue the team can scout for star talent in next year’s draft, but that would come with significant risk and opportunity cost if a prospect isn’t immediately NFL-ready.

Instead, there’s a potential solution general manager Brett Veach can utilize by acquiring an excess asset from another team.

This Chiefs-Bears trade solves Kansas City’s Travis Kelce problem

The Chicago Bears are clearly moving forward with 2025 first-round pick Colston Loveland as their TE1, in addition to taking blocking specialist Sam Roush out of Stanford in this year’s draft. All of which leaves backup — and previous starter — Cole Kmet on the outside looking in. The 27-year-old still has a lot of high-quality football left to play, and he’d certainly sign off on the opportunity to get starting snaps for a team with a championship window still wide open.

The problem is going to be convincing Chicago to pick up the phone in the first place. Kmet signed a restructured deal in April which disincentivizes the Bears from moving him until next year. A pre-June 1 deal would cost Chicago $4.1 million against the salary cap, while any swap after that date only saves the team $1.4 million.

So, with the present season not really an option, these two teams would need to be negotiating with next year in mind as Kmet is projected to cost the Bears $15.4 million against the cap in 2027. That’s the incentive Chicago needs to move him.

At the moment, Kmet is worth a conditional 2027 fifth-round pick — which may sound cheap, but the devil is in the details. Chicago will certainly dictate that an escalator be attached to the pick: For example, if Kansas City misses the playoffs in 2027, then it remains a fifth-rounder but may be deferred until 2028. If they qualify for the postseason then it could stay in 2027. A championship could push it up a round or two (though that would be a tough sell for the Chiefs).

Kmet has topped 500 receiving yards in three of his six seasons in Chicago, so there’s a good reason for Kansas City to inquire about his availability. The Bears, in turn, used a third-round pick to select Stanford’s Sam Roush – signaling they too are preparing for Kmet’s eventual departure.

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