Kansas City Chiefs 2016 free agents loaded with a few stars

The initial wave of the Kansas City Chiefs 2015 free agency is over so let's take a minute and scroll through some of the Chiefs players scheduled to be free agents next year in 2016.

The list is a little scary. Several members of the core of the Chiefs defense are set to be free agents, including Justin Houston, Derrick Johnson, Dontari Poe, Sean Smith and Eric Berry. The future of the Chiefs defense could be dramatically different if any of those players have to leave via free agency next season.

The Chiefs will also need to make some decisions at quarterback with Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray and Terrelle Pryorentering their final years. That would leave the Chiefs with just Alex Smith and Aaron Murray.

The Chiefs will whittle this list down between now and next March. They'll re-sign some players before, during or after the season. Injuries will happen to some players which will affect decisions. The Chiefs will also see some backup players emerge which will make some of these decisions easier or harder in some cases.

They'll also have the franchise tag available. Because both Dontari Poe and Justin Houston are scheduled to be free agents, it's important one of those players is wrapped up before free agency next season.

Here's the full list (via Over The Cap). What stands out to you?

QB Chase Daniel

LB Justin Houston

LB Derrick Johnson

NT Dontari Poe

QB Tyler Bray

DE Mike DeVito

CB Sean Smith

S Eric Berry

S Tyvon Branch

CB Jamell Fleming

LB Dezman Moses

TE Richard Gordon

DT Nick Williams

WR Jason Avant

DE Vaughn Martin

RB Cyrus Gray

OL Derek Sherrod

LB Josh Martin

TE Demetrius Harris

LB Frank Zombo

S Husain Abdullah

G Jeff Allen

OT Donald Stephenson

CB Shaquille Richardson

WR Junior Hemingway

CB Aaron Hester

LB James-Michael Johnson

QB Terrelle Pryor

RB Charcandrick West

DT Jaye Howard

S Daniel Sorensen