Five free agents who can help Kansas City in 2007

By Clayton Wendler  |   Wednesday, January 17, 2007  |  Comments( 15 )

Kansas City Chiefs
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The Kansas City Chiefs' embarrassing 23-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the wild-card round of the postseason was a sign that an aging offense needs a major overhaul. But the Chiefs are far from a complete team on defense, either.

While head coach Herm Edwards already has the youth movement underway, he will undoubtedly look to free agency to plug some holes, as he did a year ago in signing cornerback Ty Law.

Here are five players who would fit nicely in Kansas City next season and might be available in free agency:

1. WR Drew Bennett - 2006 stats - 46 receptions, 737 yards, three touchdowns

Bennett enjoyed a career year in 2004 (1,247 yards, 11 touchdowns), but has dropped off since. Part of that can be attributed to poor quarterback play, but it's unlikely the Titans will break the bank to retain him. If he ends up testing the market, the Chiefs will be forced to take a long, hard look at Bennett. Neither of their starting wide receivers (Samie Parker, Eddie Kennison) caught a ball in the playoff loss. Kennison is 34 and Parker has proven only one thing in two years as a starter - he's not cut out to be one. Bennett would fit in with Edwards' preference for taller wide receivers and would take a ton of heat off tight end Tony Gonzalez in the passing game, not to mention opening things up for Larry Johnson.

2. OT Leonard Davis

Davis is on his way out of Arizona, and the Cardinals aren't likely to throw much money at him as a starting left tackle. Someone in free agency will give him that money, but perhaps not as a blindside protector. It's been suggested that Davis is better suited to play guard, and the Chiefs will certainly need one with the likely retirement of 12-time Pro Bowler Will Shields. The massive 370-pound Davis surely would have made a difference against the Colts. In Kansas City, he'd team with Pro Bowl left guard Brian Waters to form one of the most dominant guard tandems in the NFL. The Chiefs ran to the right with minimal success this past year (Johnson averaged only 2.5 yards per carry to the right, compared to 4.2 on the left), so Davis is also an ideal candidate to fix that problem.

3. DT Cory Redding - 2006 stats - 47 tackles, eight sacks

The Chiefs' major weakness on defense was at defensive tackle, where every player at that position combined for just 3½ sacks. In a Cover Two scheme such as the one Edwards prefers to run, that's just not going to produce good results. The Chiefs will surely be looking to upgrade the position this offseason and Redding in Kansas City would be a match made in heaven. He's young (26) has a high motor (47 tackles), is a force inside (eight sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss) and at 6-foot-4, 290 pounds is the ideal Cover Two defensive tackle. When you consider that Redding was playing on a pathetic Detroit defensive line with no other dominant presence, his numbers look even better.

4. OLB Lance Briggs - 2006 stats - 130 tackles, one sack, two interceptions

Other than defensive tackle, the glaring hole in Kansas City's defense is outside linebacker. Kendrell Bell has been a complete bust and probably won't be back in 2007. Briggs would slot wonderfully in Kansas City's linebacking corps and form a fantastic team with Derrick Johnson at outside LB. The question for the Chiefs is whether they want to spend that kind of money. Briggs is easily the top free agent linebacker and isn't exactly the star attraction on Chicago's defense.

5. DE Dewayne White - 2006 stats - 43 tackles, five sacks

The Chiefs are in better shape at this position than they have been in years with Tamba Hali and Jared Allen, but because of a DUI, Allen will likely be facing a four-game suspension to start the 2007 season. The Chiefs will need someone to fill in, and their depth at defensive end is awful. Jimmy Wilkerson has played outside at times but seems to have found a home in KC's defense as a defensive tackle. The Chiefs need a depth player, and White nicely fits the bill. He won't come too expensive, but still has plenty of experience in a Cover Two defense, playing in 60 games as the weakside end for the Buccaneers over the last four seasons, starting the final eight in 2007. He's also young and flashed playmaking ability (three forced fumbles, 5.5 tackles for loss) last year.

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CommentsComments: 15  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
TG		09:36 PM
01/17/2007
I agree that the chiefs need, a new threat at reciever. I know Samie Parker can fit in a good Chiefs offense as a third or even...
No.2
Ron Tepper		03:18 PM
01/18/2007
Very good selections-especially Redding who provides a great inside pass rush.But can they afford any of these guys? With the...
No.3
Lucas		04:17 PM
01/18/2007
How about QB? Herm needs to get a young and solid QB for the team. Huard will probably leave the team and sign with Eagles and...
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