KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After mostly sitting out the action of Day One’s free-agent market – choosing to sign one of their own after losing five players – the Chiefs joined the fray Wednesday.
Dec 1, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans inside linebacker Joe Mays (53) reacts after a defensive play during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
With the re-signing of free safety Husain Abdullah, the Chiefs officially announced the signings of former Houston Texans inside linebacker Joe Mays and former Colts offensive lineman Jeff Linkenbach to free-agent contracts.
“We are excited to be able to bring back Husain Abdullah, as well as add Joe Mays and Jeff Linkenbach to our roster,” Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said in a statement. “All three of these men will add depth and talent to our team as we continue to build for the 2014 season.”
Mays has connections with Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who drafted Mays out North Dakota State in the sixth round (200th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft while with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Mays, who turns 29 in July, spent two seasons in Philadelphia (2008-09), three with the Denver Broncos (2010-12) and the 2013 season with the Houston Texans.
The Chiefs appear content to not bring back unrestricted free agent Akeem Jordan and have Mays compete for the inside linebacker position. The Chiefs also drafted inside linebacker Nico Johnson in 2013.
Listed at 5-11, 244 pounds, Mays has 194 career tackles (141 solo), 1.5 sacks, six passes defensed and a forced fumble.
On his six-year career, he’s appeared in 61 games with 35 starts.
While the Chiefs did not disclose the terms of Mays’ deal, ESPN NFL Nation insider Adam Caplan reports Mays signed a two-year, $6 million contract .
Meanwhile, Linkenbach, who turns 27 in June, entered the league with the Colts in 2010 as an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati.
Listed at 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, the fourth-year pro appeared in 60 games with 33 starts for the Colts. He’s also appeared in four postseason games with two starts.
In 2013, he appeared in 12 games with five starts. In 2011, Linkenbach started all 16 regular season games, splitting playing time at left and right guard.
The Chiefs lost guard Geoff Schwartz, who signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants. And signing Linkenbach fills an immediate need before May’s NFL Draft where the Chiefs could still choose to add offensive linemen.
Terms of Linkenbach’s contract are unknown at this time.
Linkenbach’s signing was first announced on Twitter by his agent, Andy Simms of PlayersRep Sports:
Congrats to client OL Jeff Linkenbach on signing with the Kansas City Chiefs today
— Sports Agent (@andysimms) March 12, 2014
Notes: The Chiefs are hosting former New Orleans Saints Joe Morgan for a free-agent visit Wednesday, according to a source … The Chiefs previously spoke to draft prospect, North Dakota State offensive lineman Billy Turner, at the Senior Bowl and had an informal interview with him at the NFL Scouting Combine … However, the Chiefs were not present for Turner’s Pro Day on Wednesday, as confirmed with NDSU’s sports information director.
