4 Free Agents Who Avoided Franchise Tag the Chiefs Should Target

The franchise tag deadline has come and gone and now we're just waiting for the NFL's free agency period to officially open on March 13th. Kansas City placed the tag on L'Jarius Sneed, but many quality players are free to negotiate with other teams come next week.

I expect Brett Veach to be proactive in the free agency market. If the Chiefs do ultimately trade Sneed, they'll have a healthy amount of cap room pending a potential Chris Jones extension.

With that in mind, let's look at four free agents who didn't get the franchise tag applied to them that Kansas City needs to target when free agency opens up next week. The Chiefs are already +650 at FanDuel Sportsbook to win their third straight Super Bowl, meaning a $10 bet would profit $65. They're the second-biggest favorite, but these moves could push the team over the top.

4 Free Agents Who Avoided Franchise Tag the Chiefs Should Target

1. Calvin Ridley - WR

Ridley returned from over a year away from football to put up 76 catches (136 targets) for 1,016 yards for eight TDs with the Jaguars, who elected not to ensure he'd be on the team next year. It's possible the Jags and Ridley still agree on a long-term extension, but he's at least free to explore other options.

After missing out on Mike Evans, the Chiefs should go after Ridley if they truly want to target a top wide receiver. He's likely the best player left, and is only a few years removed from a 90-catch, 1,374-yard season with nine TDs. At 29-years-old, he'd be an excellent compliment to Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce stylistically.

One of the best route-runners in the NFL, Ridley can create separation effortlessly. We know Patrick Mahomes is one of the most accurate and gifted tight-window throwers in the league, what happens when you give him another weapon that makes those tight windows bigger routinely?

With a full offseason under Andy Reid and two years away from his absence, Ridley could explode and once again be one a top receivers.

He could demand a payday Brett Veach is unwilling to meet, though if there's interest on Ridley's end, he's a great player to target as the Chiefs seek the first three-peat in history.

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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.

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.

3. Tony Pollard - RB

Last year, I would've expected Pollard to be an impossible dream. He recently admitted a willingness to take less salary to stay with the Cowboys however, opening the door for a team like the Chiefs to swoop in.

Pollard looked like a budding star when he took over as Dallas' main back. He's got two straight 1,000-yard seasons and is a valuable pass-catching weapon as well. If the former Baylor standout wants to rebuild his value as the perfect compliment to Pacheco while getting a shot at a ring, the Chiefs once again present an ideal option.

This is a running back that's still got some juice. Isiah Pacheco emerged as one of the best rushers in the NFL last year, though he embraces a physical, taxing style that makes him susceptible to injury.

It'd be good business for the Chiefs to prepare for a scenario to start if Pacheco gets hurt, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon are likely on their way off the roster.

If Pollard is truly willing to take a discount, and he may not have a choice given the current market, he's my No. 1 target for Kansas City at running back this offseason. Pair him with a late-round draft choice and you've solved a big need.

4. Nyheim Hines - RB

Similar to how Samuel would be a discount addition to the wide receiver room, Hines could be the same value add for the running back group. He's a proven pass-catching back with a better resume than Jerick McKinnon when he first joined the organization, and he's an ideal Chiefs target if Brett Veach wants a similar stylistic threat out of the backfield.

Hines suffered a torn ACL prior to the start of last season, but he's got 1,778 receiving yards and 1,202 rushing yards in five NFL seasons. With experience playing on special teams as well, he could fit multiple roles for this Chiefs offense.

It's always risky signing a running back coming off a significant knee injury, though that's the benefit of already having an established lead back in Isiah Pacheco with the ability to draft someone as well.

Depending on what positions Brett Veach wants to prioritize with the cap space, Hines would fit well in Kansas City. He had at least 300 receiving yards in each of his first four seasons, making him a logical replacement for Jerick McKinnon if the Chiefs don't resign the versatile veteran.

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