The players scheduled to be free agents can start talking to other teams beginning today. That’s when the so-called legal tampering or early negotiating period begins for free agency.
Free agency doesn’t actually begin until Wednesday afternoon. But starting today teams can begin talking to free agents with other teams. No deals can be struck nor can any visits be had in this two day period but they can start outlining the terms of a deal. (Many teams ignore the outlining part and figure out the whole deal)
This means that the Chiefs can start talking to free agents from other teams soon. There is a sense that we could see a lot of big changes for the Chiefs this week. Already Alex Smith, Marcus Peters and Derrick Johnson are gone and free agency hasn’t started yet. I talked with a couple of folks around the Chiefs recently and they both had the same feeling that we could be seeing a lot of action this week.
This early negotiating period means that the Chiefs own free agents can start talking to teams too. You think new Bears head coach Matt Nagy is going to call up Albert Wilson’s camp (if they haven’t already)? I think so. I’m curious what’s going on with Chiefs P Dustin Colquitt. Are the Chiefs going to bring him back? Additionally, I want to see if anyone shows interest in Derrick Johnson, who is hitting the market for the first time.
The rumors will start popping today. I would expect to hear some teams around the league have struck deals with certain players. We’ll be monitoring all the news as it comes down, not just for the Chiefs players involved but how other signings will affect the Chiefs plans.
Chiefs 2018 free agents
QB Tyler Bray
FB Anthony Sherman (Chiefs re-signed him)
LB Derrick Johnson
WR Albert Wilson
NT Bennie Logan
CB Phillip Gaines
CB Kenneth Acker
C Zach Fulton
P Dustin Colquitt
CB Terrance Mitchell
LB Kevin Pierre-Louis
WR De’Anthony Thomas
G Jordan Devey
S Steven Terrell
DE Jarvis Jenkins
RB CJ Spiller
DL Stefan Charles
These are the Chiefs restricted and exclusive rights free agents below. Basically, the Chiefs can tender these players at a certain level and the Chiefs own their rights. So, if the Chiefs want them back, they can bring them back. If they don’t, they won’t.
RFA: LB Ramik Wilson
RFA: DE Rakeem Nunez-Roches
ERFA: LB Terrance Smith
ERFA: CB Keith Baxter