KC Chiefs: Way too early look at offensive free agents after 2019
By Chris Clark
Tight End
It’s no surprise that KC Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is once again setting the pace for all other tight ends in the league. He’s one of quarterback Patrick Mahomes‘ most reliable targets and is most problematic for opposing defenses.
Chiefs Kingdom is fortunate to have Kelce, who is nearing his fourth straight season with at least 1,000 yards receiving. After Kelce though, the tight end position takes a steep dropoff.
Tight ends Blake Bell, Deon Yelder, and David Wells are all set to become free agents in 2020. Losing any or all of these players to free agency wouldn’t be the end of the world and would usher in the nice opportunity to upgrade the position behind Kelce.
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While there’s always the possibility to add a talented young player during the draft, the Chiefs will likely pursue the free agent avenue prior to that event. So, who are some notable names that the Chiefs could target?
One player that holds incredible potential, but has been plagued with injuries is the Cincinnati Bengals tight end, Tyler Eifert. Eifert was the first tight end selected in a draft class that consisted of names like Zach Ertz, Jordan Reed, Vance McDonald, and even the best of the bunch, Travis Kelce.
Eifert has all the traits to be a dominant player at the position, but unfortunately, the injury bug has bitten him a little too often. Add to that the fact that he’s been on some poor Cincinnati teams and Eifert hasn’t had the greatest chance to shine.
Could a change of scenery give the talented tight end a fresh start? Eifert’s 2019 season hasn’t been much to speak, but the bright spot might simply be that he has at least remained healthy.
Cincinnati is a team at the ground level of a rebuild and might elect to just let the 29-year-old tight walk in 2020. It’d be a risk for Kansas City, but one worth looking into if the price was right. The potential that he could bring to the roster would be an upgrade over the tight ends the Chiefs may lose and would be a nice compliment to the best tight end in the league.
There are other big-name options as well, albeit they may be harder to attain. The Chargers’ Hunter Henry is one of the better young tight ends in the league and is set to become a free agent unless the Chargers re-sign him.
Like Eifert, Henry has an injury history but the risk could be offset because of the upside in his talent. The Chargers aren’t likely to just let Henry walk, but if they do, the Chiefs would be wise to make a run at him.
Another young and talented tight end like Henry is Atlanta’s Austin Hooper. Hooper is in his fourth year with the Falcons after being drafted in the third round in 2016.
In the same way that the Chargers likely won’t let Henry walk away so easy, the Falcons will likely try to retain one of quarterback Matt Ryan‘s more reliable targets. Atlanta is a team in turmoil, though, so who knows what could happen with potential coaching changes after the season.
No matter what happens with these three tight ends or the Chiefs’ free-agent tight ends, Kansas City will look to improve at the position.