4 Free Agents Who Avoided Franchise Tag the Chiefs Should Target
By Joe Summers
![Calvin Ridley had 1,016 yards and 8 TDs for the Jaguars this year Calvin Ridley had 1,016 yards and 8 TDs for the Jaguars this year](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3312,h_1863,x_0,y_68/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/220/01hrckjb6rxcytca3wf4.jpg)
2. Curtis Samuel - WR
Should Brett Veach decide to allocate resources elsewhere and sign a wide receiver a bit farther down the ranks, Curtis Samuel could be a "Super Mario" version of the roles Mecole Hardman and Kadarius Toney played in the last two seasons.
He's a versatile playmaker that can run standard receiving routes and provide a weapon out of the backfield, similar to the passing-game impact the Chiefs utilized Jerick McKinnon for. Samuel has over 613 receiving yards in each of his last four healthy seasons, adding a combined 556 rushing yards in the process.
Out of the backfield Curtis Samuel is still a weapon pic.twitter.com/T9EbzBd9LY
— Jinx (@smartest1here) February 28, 2024
The Commanders are reshaping their offense and appear willing to let Samuel move on in free agency. Andy Reid loves a good jet sweep and a complicated formation to free up a versatile player. I'm not sure I can think of a better fit for his creativity than the former Ohio State Buckeye.
Samuel's last contract was for three years and $34.5 million, similiar to Marquez Valdes-Scantling numbers. This next contract will likely be the same or at a discount, given Washington's struggles this year, so he'd fit within the Chiefs cap if Veach wants to pursue him.
Personally, I see Samuel as an ideal addition. He worked with Eric Bieniemy this last year and I'm hoping he works with Bieniemy's former employers next year.