Chiefs Free Agency Goals: The Big Back

Sometimes you can tell from the visits a team schedules during free agency what they're trying to do. Schedule a visit with four offensive tackles? You probably need offensive tackle help. Bring in a few slot receivers? You probably need a slot receiver.

For the Kansas City Chiefs, it's clear they want to find a bigger running back in free agency. In an ideal world, this big back picks up the short yardage carries while Jamaal Charles runs wild in the open field.

They're visiting with two of them -- Mike Tolbert, formerly of the San Diego Chargers, and Peyton Hillis, formerly of the Cleveland Browns. Tolbert comes in at 5'9" and 243 pounds while Hillis is 6'1" and 240 pounds.

It's also been speculated that the Chiefs are interested in BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who is a solid short-yardage back but not one of these 240+ pound guys.

The Chiefs have a few free agent running backs they're probably losing, including Jackie Battle and Thomas Jones. Battle's testing the market but it's obvious he's not going to have a true No. 2 role in Kansas City so he could move on. I'd be very, very surprised if Jones came back to KC.

And then there's Le'Ron McClain, who never really had a chance as the big back next to Charles last season. He only had 14 carries. That tells us the Chiefs probably thought he was not the man for the job (or he was more valuable as a lead blocker).

It sure looks like all three of those Chiefs free agents -- Battle, Jones and McClain -- are on their way out, huh? I'd bet the Chiefs end up signing one of these guys -- Hillis, Tolbert or even Green-Ellis (but the "mystery team" may sign Green-Ellis instead).

More Chiefs free agency news (and a list of all the Chiefs free agents here):

Day one recap | Finnegan's numbers are in, waiting on Carr | Mike Tolbert has five teams interested | BenJarvus Green-Ellis has multiple suitors | Eric Winston visiting Chiefs | Peyton Hilils, Mike Tolbert visiting Chiefs | 49ers in on Brandon Carr | John Carlson visiting Chiefs | No tender for Tyler Palko | Kyle Orton visiting Cowboys | Brandon Carr visiting Cowboys