The Kansas City Chiefs were busy, busy on the first day of the 2016 NFL free agency period. The day started off slow with the Chiefs losing G Jeff Allen, QB Chase Daniel and S Tyvon Branch to other teams. But what started slow did not end slow as GM John Dorsey put his Batman cape on and went out and re-signed Derrick Johnson, OT Mitch Schwartz and DL Jaye Howard in just a few hours.
This comes as the NFL alleged the Chiefs tampered with Jeremy Maclin last year and handed out a significant punishment of draft picks and fines. So good on Dorsey for getting these deals done while Goodell spun the wheel and decided to screw the Chiefs.
The Chiefs biggest priority was always going to be signing their own free agents. They had the best crop of free agents of any team in the league this free agency period and they have kept most of them, which is good. The big addition was OT Mitch Schwartz, which was a surprise to me and fills an area of need.
We do not have updated cap figures yet but we will once the contracts are filed and we know the cap situations.
The Chiefs are getting a A- from me on day one of free agency. Bringing all of their own guys back was their plan but to do so at such good contracts was huge. And to add a very good player at a major position of need like Mitch Schwartz was critical. Sean Smith or Schwartz, either one was fine by me. Nabbing Sean Smith would make it an A+ ... Sean Smith to the Raiders!
Your grade?
Free agents signed
OT Mitch Schwartz (five years, $33 million): Love this signing. Big position of need for the Chiefs with Jeff Allen and Donald Stephenson leaving via free agency. The contract also looks fair.
DL Jaye Howard (two years, $10 million): This deal is smaller than I thought but look how old he is - 27. That means Howard will be 29 years old when hitting free agency again. Kind of a Sean Smith situation where he sets himself up for a big pay day before 30.
LB Derrick Johnson (three years, $21 million): Dorsey said he wanted DJ back. DJ said he wanted to be back. Of course this one got done.
LB Tamba Hali (three years, $22 million): Reportedly $12 million guaranteed which looks like he'll be here for at least two years. If he can stay healthy - he had surgery after the season - this will work out.
LB Frank Zombo (three years, $3.6 million): Valuable backup pass rusher and special teamer. And for hardly anything. Good signing.
LB Jonathan Massaquoi (no details): Don't know much about him. Former 2012 fifth round pick by Atlanta.
Free agents lost
CB Sean Smith to the Raiders (no details yet): Sucks.
S Tyvon Branch to the Cardinals (two years, $10 million): He earned a new contract after a solid season in KC. The Chiefs now look for the next Tyvon Branch (or Kurt Coleman or Quintin Demps or Husain Abdullah).
G Jeff Allen to the Texans (four years, $28 million): Thank goodness the Chiefs signed Mitch Schwartz. Without that, losing Jeff Allen would hurt a lot more.
QB Chase Daniel to the Eagles (three years, $21 million): Reportedly the deal can go up to $36 million if he starts over Sam Bradford. And supposedly this is a real competition.
OT Donald Stephenson to Broncos (three years, $14 million): The hated Broncos. I'm still surprised to see a Kansas City born and bred guy go to Denver.
Free agents remaining
DE Mike DeVito
S Husain Abdullah
WR Jason Avant
CB Jamell Fleming
LB Dezman Moses