NEWSLETTER
The Chiefs entered the 2023 offseason celebrating. The squad won the Super Bowl with the help of MVP Patrick Mahomes. the focus for general manager Brett Veach shifts to next season as they hope to stay on top of the AFC. Kansas City must make some tough decisions in free agency. Here’s a look at the Chiefs free agency situation for 2023.
Kansas City Chiefs Free Agency Overview
Multiple offensive linemen are free agents including left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. He played on the franchise tag last season. Right tackle Andrew Wylie is another key player from the offensive line set to hit the market. He had an up-and-down season but held Haason Reddick to a single pressure in the Super Bowl vs the Philadelphia Eagles.
There is a chance the Chiefs could use the franchise tag on Brown again for the 2023 season. It’s safe to say head coach Andy Reid would prefer the team protects quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Brown or a different offensive tackle will likely be a top priority in free agency. They need to prepare in case Brown may not be back.
Defensive lineman Carlos Dunlap will hit the open market. The pass rusher was part of a defense that registered 55 sacks last season. That was second in the league. The defensive line will have to be addressed in free agency or the draft. They want to replicate the success in 2023.
Wideout Juju Smith-Schuster could draw some interest as a 2023 free agent. He had 933 receiving yards in 2022.
Unrestricted Chiefs Free Agents
To be an unrestricted free agent, there are a couple of qualifications. An NFL player must have four or more years of experience in the league. On top of that, their contract must be expired at the start of the new league year. They can negotiate with any team without any restrictions or draft-choice compensation. Here’s a list of the 2023 NFL free agents from the Chiefs.
Quarterbacks
None
Running Backs
Ronald Jones II – RB
Jerick McKinnon – RB
Michael Burton – FB
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
JuJu Smith-Schuster – WR
Mecole Hardman – WR
Justin Watson – WR
Blake Bell – TE
Centers, Guards, and Tackles
Andrew Wylie – T
Nick Allegretti – G
Orlando Brown Jr. – LT
Defensive Tackles, Defensive Ends, and Edge Rushers
Carlos Dunlap – DE
Derrick Nnadi – DT
Khalen Saunders – DT
Linebacker
None
Cornerback and Safety
Deon Bush – S
Juan Thornhill – S
Special Teams
None
Restricted Free Agents
A restricted free agent is a player who has played for three or fewer accrued seasons and has an expiring contract. The team can assign a tender to the player, which allows them to match any offer the player receives from other teams. The team receives draft compensation if the player signs elsewhere.
2023 NFL restricted free agents for the Chiefs:
Shane Buechele – QB (exclusive restricted free agent)
Joe Fortson – TE (exclusive restricted free agent)
Tommy Townsend – P
Prince Tega Wanogho – T (exclusive restricted free agent)
Tershawn Wharton – DE
Salary Cap and Roster
Salary cap space is going to be tight unless the team makes some moves. The NFL salary cap is $224.8 million for the 2023 season. Patrick Mahomes has a cap hit of $49.3 million for next season. Three more players are above $20 million. Those are Frank Clark, Chris Jones, and Joe Thuney.
Clark is one of the potential cuts to save money for the team and help the cap situation. The only issue is it creates a big need on the defensive line that already lacks depth heading into the offseason due to multiple players becoming free agents.
Chiefs Free Agency 2023 FAQs
NFL free agency will commence on March 15, 2023. It begins at 4 p.m. eastern time. The date signifies the start of the new league year and the end of all player contracts. Many players are set to hit the market and gain free agency status.
An unrestricted free agent is a player whose contract has expired, and they have no ties to their former team. Starting on March 15, they are free to negotiate with any team in the league without restrictions.
A restricted free agent can be extended what is called a qualifying offer. If offered, they are still allowed to negotiate with other teams around the league. Their current team is allowed to match any offer.
There is a “legal tampering” period that begins on March 13. Teams can talk to certified agents but no signings can be made until free agency is official.
