NFL free agency opens in less than two weeks and all eyes are on the Kansas City Chiefs. Per Spotrac, the defending Super Bowl Champions have 19 unrestricted free agents on their roster with names ranging from defensive tackle Chris Jones to inside linebacker Willie Gay Jr.
Having said that, the Chiefs only have just over $9.6 million in cap space to work with, meaning not everyone can be brought back. Re-signing some players must be prioritized over others especially if Kansas City hopes to win a third consecutive title next year.
Here are three Chiefs free agents who are most likely to re-sign this offseason.
1. DT Chris Jones
There isn't a bigger free agent that the Chiefs must re-sign this offseason that Chris Jones.
Drafted 37th overall in 2016, Jones has been one of the NFL's best defenders over the last near-decade. The former Mississippi State product has racked up 75.5 sacks since the beginning of the 2016 campaign, which ranks eighth-best league-wide during that stretch. That's without mentioning how he's been named to five Pro Bowls while earning All-Pro honors five times.
The Chiefs likely wouldn't have won Super Bowl LVIII without Jones, either. The 29-year-old defensive tackle is coming off a regular season that saw him rack up 20 solo tackles, 10.5 sacks, and four defended passes across 16 games before tallying another four solo efforts with 0.5 tackles, two tipped passes, and a forced fumble in the postseason.
Jones is now projected to earn $28.4 million annually on his next deal, per Spotrac. While that's quite a chunk of change, it's well worth it for the fifth-best DT in the NFL in 2023, per Pro Football Focus' grading system. Considering how The Athletic reports that there's "growing optimism" that the Houston, MS native will remain in Kansas City, it looks like there's a good chance that the Chiefs' best defender sticks around.
2. LB Drue Tranquill
Drue Tranquill earned himself plenty of Chiefs fans during his first campaign with the franchise.
Tranquill — who spent the first four seasons of his career with the rival Los Angeles Chargers — was one of Kansas City's better defenders in 2023. He made eight starts across 16 games, racking up 53 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one defended pass. He also held quarterbacks to 24 completions on 30 targets for 184 yards without a touchdown.
He was also an integral piece of the Chiefs' Super Bowl run, racking up the third-most solo tackles on the team (16) this postseason.
With fellow free-agent LB Willie Gay Jr. looking for a major raise this season, I see the Chiefs doing what it takes to re-sign Tranquill. The ex-Notre Dame linebacker will likely be the cheaper option of the two due to his being three years older than his counterpart. Tranquill has also openly talked about how much he loves Kansas City, saying that it's "way better" than being in Los Angeles.
If the Chiefs are serious about repeating as Super Bowl Champions next season, Tranquill must be on the roster come September.
3. RB Jerick McKinnon
It's another offseason where the Chiefs must figure out what to do with running back Jerick McKinnon.
It's the third season in a row that McKinnon is a free agent after signing three consecutive one-year contracts with Kansas City. Although he didn't start a single game for the Chiefs over the last three seasons, he's still made the most of his opportunities, turning 105 carries into 413 rushing yards and two touchdowns while also converting 94 receptions into another 811 yards with 14 TDs in 42 games.
Isiah Pacheco is the Chiefs' No. 1 RB going forward, but that doesn't mean McKinnon won't be re-signed. After all, McKinnon is the better pass-catcher of the duo and is often Patrick Mahomes' go-to option when the Chiefs need a change of pace. Additionally, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is also hitting free agency, meaning Kansas City likely doesn't want to lose both RBs to the open market.
Considering how McKinnon, 31, will likely be cheaper to re-sign than Edwards-Helaire, I won't be surprised if the Chiefs re-sign the ex-Georgia Southern rusher to operate as the team's RB2/3 in 2024.