KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs kickstarted free agency season earlier during the past few days in retaining defensive tackle Chris Jones and linebacker Drue Tranquill, but general manager Brett Veach and his staff have more work to do this week in putting together a 90-player roster starting the 2024 offseason.
NFL free agency officially begins at 3 p.m. central time Wednesday, March 13 but the flurry of activity truly started at 11 a.m. central time Monday when the negotiation window opened for unrestricted free agents. That means teams are allowed to negotiate with agents for pending free agents or directly with players who don’t have an agent.
While the Chiefs expect to become active in the free agent market at some point this week, most of their initial focus has rested on keeping their own free agents under the roof. The team started Monday with 20 unrestricted free agents (UFA), one restricted free agent (RFA) and five exclusive rights free agents (ERFA).
WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown Coming to KC
The Chiefs took a big swing at the external free-agent market late Thursday night by agreeing to terms with wide receiver Marquise Brown on a one-year deal worth up to $11 million.
Veach had quietly focused on retaining the team’s own free agents until Thursday night, and the move to add Brown addresses a major free agent need at the wide receiver position. The Chiefs haven’t had a deep threat of Brown’s caliber since the departure of Tyreek Hill, and the club believes a healthy Brown paired with a quarter the caliber of Patrick Mahomes should pay big dividends.
But don’t for one minute think Veach is done addressing the receiver position. Expect more movement both in free agency and during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Chiefs Free Agents
| Player | Type | Status |
| G/C Nick Allegretti | UFA | Agreed to terms with Washington Commanders 3/11/24 |
| TE Blake Bell | UFA | |
| WR Marquise Brown | UFA | Signed with Chiefs 3/14/24 |
| S Deon Bush | UFA | Signed extension 3/12/24 |
| G/C Mike Caliendo | ERFA | Signed tender offer 3/11/24 |
| LB Jack Cochrane | ERFA | Signed tender offer 3/11/24 |
| LB Cole Christiansen | ERFA | Signed tender offer 3/11/24 |
| DE Mike Danna | UFA | |
| S Mike Edwards | UFA | |
| RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire | UFA | |
| TE Jody Fortson | RFA | Signed with Miami 3/14/24 |
| QB Blaine Gabbert | UFA | |
| LB Willie Gay | UFA | Agreed to terms with New Orleans 3/12/24 |
| WR Mecole Hardman | UFA | |
| LB Darius Harris | UFA | |
| DE Malik Herring | ERFA | Signed tender offer 3/11/24 |
| WR Richie James | UFA | |
| CB Nazeeh Johnson | ERFA | Signed tender offer 3/11/24 |
| DT Chris Jones | UFA | Signed extension 3/11/24 |
| RB Jerick McKinnon | UFA | |
| DT Derrick Nnadi | UFA | Signed extension 3/14/24 |
| DT Mike Pennel | UFA | Signed extension 3/13/24 |
| OT Donovan Smith | UFA | |
| TE Irv Smith Jr. | UFA | Agreed to terms with Chiefs 3/12/24 (Cincinnati) |
| CB L’Jarius Sneed | UFA | Franchise tagged 3/3/24 |
| P Tommy Townsend | UFA | Agreed to terms with Houston Texans 3/11/24 |
| LB Drue Tranquill | UFA | Signed extension 3/7/24 |
| WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling | UFA | |
| OT Prince Tega Wanogho | UFA | |
| DT Tershawn Wharton | UFA | Signed extension 3/14/24 |
| LS James Winchester | UFA | Signed extension 3/15/24 |
Derrick Nnadi, Tershawn Wharton Sticking with Chiefs
The Chiefs are bringing back two more pieces of their back-to-back Super Bowl championships with the return of defensive tackles Derrick Nnadi and Tershawn Wharton on one-year deals. The terms of Nnadi’s contract were not immediately known. Wharton received a $2.74 million fully guaranteed deal.
Nnadi missed the team’s postseason run due to a triceps injury but played all 17 regular-season games tallying 29 tackles and a sack. Wharton returned from a torn ACL suffered in October 2022 to record 21 total tackles and two sacks.
The Chiefs have now retained all but one defensive that took a snap for the team last season. The lone exception is 2023 sixth-round selection Keondre Coburn, who was signed off the team’s practice squad in December by Tennessee.
2024 Won’t be Fortson Season in Kansas City
Fan-favorite tight end Jody Fortson’s run with the Chiefs came to an end Thursday when the 28-year-old signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal with the Miami Dolphins. Fortson received $425,00 guaranteed plus roster bonuses that could add another $200,000 in pay.
Fortson arrived in Kansas City on a tryout basis as an undrafted free agent at the team’s rookie minicamp in 2019. He earned a roster spot and spent most of the past five seasons with the Chiefs on the active roster, practice squad or injured reserve, and he’s earned three Super Bowl rings during his time in Kansas City.
He finished his Chiefs career with 11 catches for 123 yards and four touchdowns in 15 regular-season games.
DT Mike Pennel Returning to KC
Linebacker Drue Tranquill took a turn at breaking news Wednesday morning when said he was at the team facility signing his new contract along with Deon Bush and Mike Pennel. A source confirmed Tranquill’s report to Chiefs Digest that the 32-year-old Pennel is returning to Kansas City on a one-year deal.
Pennel rejoined the club in October on the practice squad, and even though he wasn’t promoted to the active roster he still planned in three regular-season games for the Chiefs along with all four playoff games. In three postseason starts he contributed 12 total tackles and was instrumental for Kansas City after Derrick Nnadi landed on injured reserve with a triceps injury.
Chiefs Free Up Cap Space with Mahomes Conversion
It’s becoming a tradition in Kansas City. Every March the Chiefs mark the beginning of the new league year by converting Patrick Mahomes roster bonus money into a signing bonus to carve out additional salary cap space.
This spring the Chiefs took $27 million of the $34.9 million roster bonus in his contract to convert into a signing bonus, allowing them to create $21.6 million in cap room for the 2024 season. Mahomes will still receive a $7.9 million roster bonus payable on May 5, and his base salary remains $9.85 million. His salary cap hit drops from $58.6 million down to $37 million.
The conversion also adds $5.4 million to the salary cap for the next five seasons through 2028.
Willie Gay Departs for New Orleans
Willie Gay’s time in Kansas City came to an end on Tuesday as the the 26-year-old linebacker agreed to a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints reportedly worth $3 million with incentives that could push the value up to $5 million.
The Chiefs re-signing Drue Tranquill last week appeared to close the door on Gay staying in Kansas City, and Tuesday’s deal closed the chapter on his time with the club. A second round selection by the Chiefs in the 202 NFL Draft, Gay played in 57 regular-season games over the past four seasons with 47 starts and totaled 233 tackles and 5 sacks. Gay is tied for No. 3 in franchise history in tackles for a loss in the postseason with L’Jarius Sneed, George Karlaftis and Justin Houston and trailing only Frank Clark (14) and Chris Jones (5).
Chiefs Add TE Irv Smith Jr., Re-Sign S Deon Bush
Kansas City dipped into the free agent market for the first time Tuesday morning in agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with former Cincinnati tight end Irv Smith Jr. The 25-year-old Smith was a second-round pick out of Alabama for Minnesota in the 2019 NFL Draft, playing in 49 career games with 21 starts, 109 receptions for 973 yards and 10 touchdowns in four seasons.
Smith’s one-year deal includes a base salary of $1.125 million with $384,000 guaranteed. He also gets a $167,500 roster bonus if he’s on the team for the first game of the season.
Injuries have been the biggest obstacle for Smith in his NFL career. Surgery for a torn menicus kept him out of the entire 2021 season for Minnesota, and and he spent time on injured reserve in 2022 with an ankle injury. Last march he signed a one-year, $1.75 million free agent deal with the Bengals, and won the starting job. A hamstring injury in Week 3, however, cost him playing time and he eventually was bypassed on the depth chart by Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson.
Smith offers an athletic upside as a versatile pass catcher who can lineup anywhere on the line of scrimmage or even in the backfield, which fits in well with the Chiefs’ multiple tight end sets. Pro Football Focus has graded him out as an above average run blocker but it’s not his primary skill set. The Chiefs are hoping Smith can stay health and rekindle the production he showed during his first two seasons in the league.
Smith had a career high 36 catches as a rookie in 2019 and backed up in 2020 with career bests of 365 yards and five touchdowns. He’s on the smaller side of the tight end scale at 6-foot-2, 240 pounds
Deon Bush returning adds depth at the safety position. While Justin Reid returns, Bryan Cook will be back after a season-ending ankle injury, and Chamarri Conner is coming off a strong rookie season, Bush is insurance in the event Mike Edwards doesn’t return. He also adds strong special teams value. He’s not a lock to make the roster after spending the bulk of the season on practice squad but he’s a strong veteran presence on the 90-player roster.
Nick Allegretti Heading to Washington
Three-time Super Bowl champion offensive lineman Nick Allegretti is heading to Washington, a source confirmed to Chiefs Digest. Allegretti agreed to terms on a three-year, $16 million deal poised to make him a starter for the Commanders, a role the Chiefs could not promise him.
Allegretti proved his toughness in the Super Bowl win over San Francisco by finishing the game despite a torn UCL in his elbow. He also started for the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV against Tampa Bay. While recovering is expected to keep him out of offseason workouts, he should be ready to go by training camp. In Washington, he’ll be reunited with former offensive line teammate Andrew Wylie
The departure of Allegretti opens an opportunity for Mike Caliendo as the team’s primary backup at guard and center. Caliendo has signed his exclusive rights tender and will be back for his third season with the Chiefs in 2024.
Tommy Townsend Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Houston: Report
Punter Tommy Townsend became the first member of the Chiefs to find a new team during the 2024 free agent process, opting for a two-year, $6 million deal with the Houston Texans. The deal was first reported by ESPN.
Townsend signed with agent Drew Rosenhaus last summer, the first indication that he was searching for a lucrative offseason deal. When the Chiefs signed free agent Matt Araiza last month, it appeared more likely Townsend’s time in Kansas was coming to a close.
Chiefs Want TE Jody Fortson Back, Won’t Offer Restricted Tender
Tight end Jody Fortson missed the entire regular season due to a shoulder injury and should be ready to return for 2024, but the Chiefs are not offering him a restricted free agent tender offer. That means that Fortson will become a free agent on Wednesday, but the Chiefs hope to get him back in the fold soon.
As a restricted free agent with three years accrued experience, the Chiefs would have to offer Fortson a minimum one-year deal with $2.985 million to retain a right of first refusal. Teams have until 3 p.m. central time Wednesday to submit a tender offer to their restricted free agents.
The Chiefs declining to tender an offer to Fortson means he will become a free agent when the new league year starts on Wednesday. The minimum salary for a player with three years of accrued experience is $1.055 million. While any club can sign Fortson starting Wednesday afternoon, the Chiefs hope they can keep him at a more affordable price than through the tender offer.
Exclusive Rights Free Agent LB Jack Cochrane Signs Tender
The Chiefs now have deals with all five of their restricted free agents with linebacker Jack Cochrane signing his tender offer, a source tells Chiefs Digest.
Cochrane played in all 17 games last season for the Chiefs including one start tallying 28 tackles including two for a loss. He played 180 snaps on defense but was also a four-phase special teams player with 336 snaps (79%). The team values his versatility, as he can play all three linebacker positions.
Exclusive rights players are those with fewer than three accrued seasons who were undrafted free agents or are no longer on their rookie contracts.
James Winchester Returns for 10th Season
James Winchester has agreed to terms on a deal to return to Kansas City for a 10th season as the team’s long snapper, a source tells Chiefs Digest. Terms were not immediately available, but Winchester earned a base salary of $1.165 million last season as part of a two-year, $2.75 million extension signed in 2022. His 22 postseason games played for the Chiefs share the franchise record along with tight end Travis Kelce.
Update: Winchester’s new deal is a one-year, $1.377 million contract with $1.152 million guaranteed. That includes a $167,500 signing bonus and a $1.21 million base salary, of which $985,000 is guaranteed.
