The Kansas City Chiefs are just days away from facing the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. The fanbase is buzzing as the Chiefs look to become the first team to win three championships in five seasons since the New England Patriots did it between the 2014 and 2019 campaigns.
It's exciting to see the Chiefs in the Super Bowl again, but it's important to remember that this could be certain players' last game with the organization. After all, free agency opens in just over a month and Spotrac lists 25 Kansas City players hitting the open market — including several key names on defense.
With that being said, here are five defenders that the Chiefs will likely need to replace following the Super Bowl.
1. DT Chris Jones
Chris Jones is, arguably, the Chiefs' biggest free agent this offseason. The five-time All-Pro defensive tackle has been with the organization since he was drafted 37th overall in 2016 and ranks fifth in team history with 75.5 sacks across eight seasons.
Nevertheless, Jones' time in Kansas City could be over once Super Bowl LVIII is over. The 29-year-old veteran is set to hit the open market and carries a projected annual value of $28.4 million, per Spotrac. The Chiefs do have over $23.8 million in cap space and could restructure contracts to create more room, however, it could be a bad idea to use all that money on a defender who turns 30 later this year.
As much as fans would love to see him re-signed, even Jones acknowledges that Sunday's game could be his last in a Chiefs jersey. The majority of the league would love to have his presence on their defensive line, so I'm sure at least one team out there would be willing to pay around $30 million for his services.
Jones tallied 20 solo tackles, 10.5 sacks, and four broken-up passes in 16 games for the Chiefs this regular season. Considering how he was named All-Pro first-team for his work, it's safe to say it'll be extremely difficult to replace him.
We've got at least one game left with Jones and you can score a $200 bonus from FanDuel Sportsbook if Kansas City wins! Just sign up, deposit at least $10 and bet $5 or more on Kansas City and you'll get an extra $200 in bonus bets if your wager wins. Sign up for FanDuel now!
2. CB L'Jarius Sneed
L'Jarius Sneed played a key role in why the Chiefs had one of the best defenses this season.
The former Louisiana Tech cornerback excelled in a shutdown role in his fourth season. Sneed was targeted 100 times over 16 games, allowing only 51 receptions for 478 yards without a touchdown. His 56.2 passer rating and 51.0% completion rate allowed were both the best marks of his career.
In fact, the 27-year-old defender finished the campaign as Pro Football Focus' No. 28-graded cornerback in both coverage (74.3) and overall defense (73.7).
Sneed is a terrific cornerback, but a projected market value of $16.3 million annually might be too much for the Chiefs to consider. After all, that type of money can be used to address several positions.
Nevertheless, Kansas City's secondary would take a big step back if Sneed leaves.
3. DE Michael Danna
Michael Danna is someone who's improved with each passing season in Kansas City and the 2023 campaign was no exception.
Starting in a career-high 16 games, the former 2020 fifth-rounder set new personal bests when it comes to sacks (6.5), solo tackles (32), tackles for lost yardage (7), and swatted passes (3). He also amassed 41 quarterback pressures, per PFF, which is more than half of what he had in the three previous seasons combined (72).
The Chiefs finished the regular season with PFF's 11th-best pass rush grade, so it's easy to see how losing Danna this offseason would hurt. He's due for a major pay raise after earning a $2.7 million salary in 2023. Spotrac projects that he could make about $8.6 million per season on his next deal.
The Chiefs can certainly afford to re-sign Danna, but time will tell if they're willing to meet his asking price. If not, they might have to look at the 2024 NFL Draft for a cheaper replacement.
4. LB Willie Gay Jr.
Even though the 2023 season wasn't Willie Gay Jr.'s best with the Chiefs, he was still an integral part of the team's defensive success.
Playing his most games since his rookie year (16), Gay finished with 44 solo tackles, four defended passes, three fumble recoveries, one interception, and one sack. He also tallied an opposing passer rating of 76.4 after giving up only 22 receptions for 177 yards on 29 targets.
Gay gives it his all every game and is a player that any championship contender would want to add. Having said that, a projected market value of $7 million could be too pricy for the Chiefs if they already plan on spending big bucks on their other free-agent defenders.
The ex-Mississippi State product is talented and well-loved by the fanbase, but there's a reason why linebackers are one of the more often replaced positions. If the Chiefs think they can get similar production at a cheaper price, they'll look for someone who fits the bill this offseason.
5. LB Drue Tranquill
Speaking of pending free-agent linebackers, Drue Tranquill is also slated to hit the open market in March.
After four seasons with the rival Los Angeles Chargers, the former Notre Dame defender joined the Chiefs on a one-year deal last offseason. Fortunately, Tranquill arrived as advertised, finishing the regular schedule with 53 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles, and one broken-up pass across 16 games (8 starts).
If that wasn't impressive enough, Tranquill also recorded a career-high 18 QB pressures and his PFF pass rush grade of 86.1 was the sixth-best mark among eligible LBs.
Tranquill's projected market value of $6.9 million won't break the bank, but it's a lot given the other key defenders that the Chiefs must re-sign. It wouldn't be surprising if an outside team took advantage of Kansas City's free-agent situation and offered the 28-year-old veteran a bigger deal.
After the big impact he had this season, replacing Tranquill won't be easy.
More Kansas City Chiefs News: