Kansas City Chiefs: Free agents to target on one-year deals for 2020

Vernon Hargreaves III

Heading into the offseason, the Chiefs are looking pretty thin at the cornerback group. Bashaud Breeland will likely command a decent contract on the open market and Kendall Fuller may also look to land a more sizeable contract as well.

For 2020, the Chiefs really only have Charvarius Ward and Rashaud Fenton as the most significant names under contract. Needless to say, this will be a group that Brett Veach will have to prioritize.

One former first-round draft pick that could be a low-budget option might be Vernon Hargreaves, who was drafted 11th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2016. He battled injuries two out of the first three seasons with the Buccaneers and was eventually released by them during the 2019 season. He was then claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans and played out the rest of the season there.

After being released by the Texans in the middle of February, it’d be easy to say that he’s a draft bust, but what is the real reason why he’s struggled early in his career? We may not know all the details, but landing in a more stable environment may help revive his career. With injuries, a coaching change in Tampa Bay, and being thrown in the mix for the Texans later in 2019, he may just need a chance with a more secure footing.

With Kansas City having a need at the position and Hargreaves needing a new start with a very solid team, this could benefit both parties. Hargreaves has likely fallen out of favor with many teams around the league and may not get looked at until the smoke from the start of free agency clears.

Kansas City may be able to pick him up for cheap, spend the offseason with him on a test drive, and then decide if he should be on the roster in 2020. If it were to work out, Hargreaves could potentially bring first-round draft talent to the Chiefs at a lower cost.