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The Kansas City Chiefs made their first move in free agency Friday, albeit one that will likely have its greatest impact on special teams. The Chiefs signed cornerback Antonio Hamilton, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Former Giants’ CB Antonio Hamilton is signing a one-year deal with the Chiefs, per @RosenhausSports, who added that Hamilton turned down more money from another team. Hamilton is first free agent the Chiefs have signed this off-season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 20, 2020
Hamilton, 27, is listed 6 feet and 195 pounds. He first entered the league in 2016 as an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders out of South Carolina State University.
Antonio Hamilton is a damn good athlete for a Chiefs CB.
— Craig Stout (@barleyhop) March 20, 2020
6'0", 192 pounds, 31" arms.
4.38s 40 yard dash
6.97 3 Cone
39.5" Vertical
11' Broad
He's a Tier 1 cBAT. The first the Chiefs have had in a long while. https://t.co/93Gl8CoI3N
Hamilton registered just 12 defensive snaps and 41 special-teams snaps for the Raiders as a rookie and then was placed on injured reserve midway through 2017 due to a knee injury.
The Raiders waived Hamilton in September of 2018, and a day later, he was claimed by the New York Giants, where he spent the last two years as a special teams ace. Hamilton played only special teams for the Giants in 2018, then registered 133 defensive snaps (12%) and 372 special teams snaps (81%) last year. Both counts were career highs for Hamilton.
Hamilton is an outstanding special teams player, particularly as a gunner, which makes sense — the Chiefs have already chosen not to tender wide receiver Marcus Kemp and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson is a free agent.
Hearing Antonio Hamilton could be a gunner candidate. #Chiefs likely preparing for loss of Marcus Kemp, probable loss of Demarcus Robinson. pic.twitter.com/3GZrOQk13U
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) March 20, 2020
In all the notes of Hamilton’s signings, reporters were sure to mention that Hamilton took less money to play with the Super Bowl champions.
Depending on how much more than an NFL minimum salary he will earn in 2020, Hamilton’s signing will reduce the Chiefs’ cap space about at least $300,000. With his signing, the Chiefs have very limited salary cap space remaining.