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Those who thought the Kansas City Chiefs would take a coupon clippers approach to free agency are proving correct. The KC Chiefs on Wednesday signed free agents OL Linkenbach and LB Joe Mays, according to reports. Linkenbach spent the last four seasons with the Colts while Mays was previously with the Texans, Broncos and Eagles.
Congrats to client OL Jeff Linkenbach on signing with the Kansas City Chiefs today
— Sports Agent (@andysimms) March 12, 2014
A source confirms @caplannfl’s report that the #Chiefs have signed LB Joe Mays to a two-year, $6 million deal.
— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) March 12, 2014
On Linkenbach: Remember when Andy Reid said he likes linemen who can play multiple positions? Seems like Linkenbach, 6'6 and 325 pounds, fits the bill there. He started 33 games for the Colts over the last four seasons with experience at guard and tackle. He's not a world-beater it doesn't appear but then again Geoff Schwartz wasn't thought of one when the Chiefs signed him last year. I'll be interested to see if he's a candidate for the swing tackle job or competing for a starting guard job.
Linkenbach played right guard and right tackle for the Colts last year and finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of negative-8.1.
— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) March 12, 2014
OT Jeff Linkenbach's deal with #Chiefs is 1 year, $900K, with $250K gtd and up to $600K in incentives.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 13, 2014
As a reference, Terez said that Schwartz had an 18.6 last season.
On Mays: It's a 2-year, $6 million deal with a $1.5 million signing bonus. Adam Caplan has more on his contract here. He's the former Broncos linebacker who nailed Tony Moeaki in this hit a few years ago. Mays, 28, played last season for the Texans. Looks like he'll be competing for an inside linebacker job. Akeem Jordan, last year's starter, is a free agent with multiple suitors. His connection to the Chiefs: Andy Reid drafted him in 2008. He spent two years in Philly, three years in Denver and one in Houston.
As Terez also points out in his analysis, this may not bode well for Nico Johnson, the Alabama linebacker drafted in the fourth round last season.
Mays’ @PFF grades the last five years: -1.8, -2.2, 4.6, 0.5, -2.4. #Chiefs
— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) March 12, 2014
Read more on Mays from the commenters over at Battle Red Blog.
These are the types of under-the-radar type of signings we should've seen coming. These two match up well with last year's signings of Geoff Schwartz and Akeem Jordan.