KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs enter free agency with holes at the wide receiver position after parting ways with Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins.
While the Chiefs are set to rebuild at the position, retaining a veteran receiver familiar with coach Andy Reid’s version of the West Coast offense is apparently on the radar.
Dec 21, 2014; Pittsburgh; Chiefs wide receiver Jason Avant (81) against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
The Chiefs have expressed interest in bringing back wide receiver Jason Avant, a source confirmed Saturday morning with ChiefsDigest.com.
The interest from Avant in returning to Kansas City is considered “mutual,” according to the source.
The potential re-signing of Avant, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday, would help stabilize what could shape out as young wide receiver corps in Kansas City. And this is especially true when considering the uncertainty surrounding Dwayne Bowe’s status.
The Chiefs currently have Bowe, Albert Wilson, Armon Binns, Frankie Hammond Jr., Junior Hemingway, Corbin Louks, Da’Rick Rogers and Fred Williams on the offseason roster.
Avant, a native of Chicago, originally signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs on Nov. 21 after being waived by the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 18.
The signing reunited Avant with Reid, who drafted Avant in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft while with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 6-0, 210-pound Avant appeared in five games for the Chiefs, recording 13 catches for 152 yards. His best game statistically for the Chiefs came in Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals where he recorded five catches for 64 yards on seven targets.
Avant, who turns 32 in April, spent eight seasons in Philadelphia (seven with Reid) before signing a free-agent contract with Carolina in April 2014.
He has appeared in 132 career games with 52 starts, totaling 331 catches for 3,999 yards and 13 touchdowns.
