Chiefs Free Agency: Restricted Free Agents

by Joel Thorman on Jul 7, 2011 3:50 PM CDT

We're nearing the conclusion of Kansas City Chiefs free agency day around here. We've already looked at the unrestricted free agents -- players I would keep, players I would keep if the price is right and players I would let walk.

Now it's time to look at the restricted free agents.

Here are the Chiefs (expected) restricted free agents: CB Maurice Leggett, TE Brad Cottam, DE Wallace Gilberry, CB Brandon Carr, OT Barry Richardson, FB Mike Cox and S Reshard Langford (Langford is an exclusive rights free agent)

The guys in parentheses reportedly received tenders shortly before the lockout in March so we think the Chiefs are keeping them. (Let's keep in mind the caveat that those reported tenders aren't official yet.)

As for the first three -- Leggett and Cottam -- I would strongly consider keeping Cottam depending on the health of his neck after surgery last year.

The next three -- Gilberry, Carr and Richardson -- are, in my mind, no-brainer keepers. In terms of importance, I would rank them: Carr, Richardson and Gilberry. The lack of another offensive tackle on the team makes Richardson's role more valuable.

As for Cox and Langford, I would hang onto both as well. In my previous free agency predictions, I had FB Tim Castille leaving so Cox will fill that role. And, on Langford, he is still young and has time to develop. Plus, he's pretty cheap, so there's no reason to get rid of him.

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Not bad

But Battle… IDK, it’s been what, four years? And he’s yet to make any kind of mark at all. It seems to me that his roster spot and (admittedly low) money could go elsewhere.

I love my wife, my kids, and the Chiefs. In that order. Except on game days.

by MNchiefsfan on Jul 7, 2011 4:11 PM CDT reply actions

Good point

Maybe time for a change.

Arrowhead Pride
SBNation.com/NFL

by Joel Thorman on Jul 7, 2011 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm really high on Gilberry

he is a great rotational player that has really show that he fits in this system. Alot of whom we keep will be decided by who we pick up in Free Agency but I expect Carr and Richardson to be retained almost for sure.
I would say Leggett is pretty much gone, and not so sure about Battle either, regardless I have been bracing myself for this as a Chiefs fan ever since Pioli and Haley arrived. Players I like are going to be wearing different colors after a few years and their service to the Chiefs is up, so I’m welcoming any moves they make as long as the talent and depth keeps rising.

by jrcnc on Jul 7, 2011 4:29 PM CDT reply actions

definitely the 3 mentioned in carr richardson and gilberry

altho part of me thinks that KC would love it if a team came in with a 3rd or better offer for gilberry….and I do like gilberry, I just think it would make sense

Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jul 7, 2011 4:31 PM CDT reply actions

no way we get a 3rd or better for Gilberry

He is a great situational player for us and has great games but they aren’t strung together. I think Gilberry is exactly the type of depth this team needs. I wish we had a Gilberry type backup for all of our positions.

by jrcnc on Jul 7, 2011 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions

a 3rd for a potentially good 4-3 end is possible

I get that you like wallace…but bailey is basically reason to move gilberry if a 3 or 4 were offered

he had 7,5 sacks in limited time…out of position in the 3-4….he has value to a team like detroit, more than to us imo

and as I said, I like gilberry, it just makes sense

and there was a rumor of a kc player being dealt to detroit around draft time for a mid rd pick

Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jul 7, 2011 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Bailey is not a reason to move Gilberry IMO

I can’t see Bailey bringing the same pass rush that Gilberry did last year. Bailey and Houston well that is a different story

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston

by BAMFSpecialOps on Jul 7, 2011 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions

we also will have to choose whether or not to pay him long term, if im wallace, im looking to start somewhere...

so thats just my take on what could happen in the future.

I fail to see how its so far fetched.

I do see how its unfair to put it on a rookie to replace his production, im just trying to be realistic, we should be paying a lot of guys soon, and I hope we do, I just wonder if wallace would take backup money so to speak

Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jul 8, 2011 2:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Well considering Bailey and Gilberry play completely different, oh no its not unfair to expect the same things

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
H^2-Hali and Houston

by BAMFSpecialOps on Jul 8, 2011 5:40 AM CDT up reply actions

bailey is basically reason to move gilberry if a 3 or 4 were offered

Or Alex Magee 2.0. You never, never, never count on a rookie to replace a producing vet before even seeing him practice with the team. At least IMO.

I love my wife, my kids, and the Chiefs. In that order. Except on game days.

by MNchiefsfan on Jul 7, 2011 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions

fair enough, I just see really good value for gilberry in the 4-3

Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jul 8, 2011 2:01 AM CDT up reply actions

That argument makes little sense

It doesn’t behoove the Chiefs to give up on their second-best passrusher until they have a proven commodity in hand. Neither Bailey or Houston is proven by any means.

by Dagda on Jul 7, 2011 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions

it makes sense if you are looking to continue to stockpile picks etc

gilberry will be 27, hes a perfect fit in 4-3….it makes sense to me in that regard

Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jul 8, 2011 2:00 AM CDT up reply actions

I guess I don't really care how well he fits in another system

I care if we get value back for him.

A good nickel pass rusher is worth more to our team (which is in the nickel half the time and has NO other pass rushers outside of Hali) than a 3rd rounder.

I love my wife, my kids, and the Chiefs. In that order. Except on game days.

by MNchiefsfan on Jul 8, 2011 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions

also houston has nothing to do with gilberry, this has more to do with bailey due to the end position gilberry plays

where we loved gilberry was next to dorsey in nickel packages

what I wonder, and this comes from someone who has supported gilberry fully, if bailey was drafted to play the role gilberry currently plays. If thats the case, I just see potential down the line where a 4-3 team would value him as a starting pass rusher….that is valuable

Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jul 8, 2011 2:03 AM CDT up reply actions

Have you considered the possibility...

that maybe Bailey was acquired in order to help bookend the DE position in nickel packages? In fact, I remember reading somewhere that Bailey is likely to replace Dorsey in nickel packages and he and Gilberry will likely pin their ears back and go after the QB along with Hali and Houston. Also, since rushing the passer has been one of our weaker points over the last few years, it probably isn’t a good idea to be getting rid of your second best pass rusher. We need all the production we can get and can ill-afford to lose any pass rush at this point.

by KCChiefsfan75 on Jul 8, 2011 4:38 AM CDT up reply actions

I agree with you....

If we are able to move Gilberry for a 3rd he is gone and it would be great value.

by groundedchevy on Jul 8, 2011 8:25 AM CDT up reply actions

I would rank them: Carr, Richardson and Gilberry

You got those backwards my friend.

Happiness is a long walk with a putter.

by craig in calgary on Jul 7, 2011 4:33 PM CDT reply actions

Gil and B-Rich?

I love my wife, my kids, and the Chiefs. In that order. Except on game days.

by MNchiefsfan on Jul 7, 2011 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Leggett, Cottam and Battle can go.

Something tells me Cottam had his best game the day he got injured. He sat out last year and to really think he can be NFL battle ready with that neck injury just makes me cringe. I could find myself holding my breath when he grabs a great catch in the middle of the field followed by a big hit and him not walking again…ever.

Haley wins coach of the year 2011
Chiefs 2011 rookie class proves better than 2010's WOW!!!

by ChiefsChance on Jul 7, 2011 4:44 PM CDT reply actions

Cottam would be #3 TE at best

Tony Mo and Pope would likely be the starters. I see no problem with letting Cottam battle O’Connell for the #3 spot. He likely wouldn’t see much game time and showed some promise before his injury.

by Chiefs4Life on Jul 7, 2011 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Some of these guys might see this sign at Arrowhead.......................

Providing COLOR commentary for Arrowhead Pride!

by LadyChief on Jul 7, 2011 4:52 PM CDT reply actions

I think you mean italics

The guys in parentheses reportedly received tenders shortly before the lockout in March so we think the Chiefs are keeping them."

by Dagda on Jul 7, 2011 9:27 PM CDT reply actions

Shane Bannon should be a cheaper option in a larger, faster (?) body

As for Cox and Langford, I would hang onto both as well. In my previous free agency predictions, I had FB Tim Castille leaving so Cox will fill that role.

by Dagda on Jul 7, 2011 9:31 PM CDT reply actions

Does anyone besides the Steelers

still use 3 year deals for mid round picks? It doesnt seem smart at all. PS Who do you guys think will start at FS? I know the rest of your secondary is rock solid

Winning

by Foilhat on Jul 7, 2011 11:19 PM CDT reply actions

I thought the changed it to where we are forced to sign only 3 year deals now for picks in certain rounds. maybe thats new cba

on the FS note….Kendrick Lewis. I think hes the real deal, a legit starter, a ballhawking safety. great chemistry with carr,flowers,arenas and berry. Personally think hes going to be a strong point on that defense

Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jul 8, 2011 2:08 AM CDT up reply actions