Chiefs Free Agency: 3 players who could sign “prove-it” deals

The NFL’s “authorized tampering interval” will start Monday at 11 a.m. Arrowhead Time. It marks the beginning of a frenetic (and chaotic) interval: the primary wave of free company.

Each staff will probably be doing its greatest so as to add expertise earlier than April’s NFL Draft. There will probably be blockbuster offers wherein life-altering cash will probably be paid to high gamers. However there can even be those that received’t be capable to demand as a lot as they imagined. Many of those will take a one-year deal, pleased to have caught on with a brand new staff — and get one other alternative to show themselves.

These sorts of “show it” offers are the bread and butter of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ common supervisor Brett Veach.

Typically, these work out properly. Different instances, they don’t.

In 2022, the Chiefs signed former Pittsburgh Steelers large receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to a one-year deal value just a bit over $1 million on the wage cap. The wideout responded by gaining practically 1,000 receiving yards, serving to Kansas Metropolis attain (and win) Tremendous Bowl LVII.

A 12 months in the past — after veteran large receiver Hollywood Brown didn’t get the contract provides he was anticipating — the Chiefs signed him to an incentive-laden one-year contract that totaled slightly below seven million {dollars}. However on the preseason’s first offensive snap, Brown suffered an harm that saved him out till Week 15 — and consequently, he could once more discover himself in the same place throughout free company.

With Kansas Metropolis, a “prove-it deal” offers a participant an opportunity to earn a good-sized chunk of cash as he rehabilitates his status. If he can, he may earn an enormous contract with one other staff — but when nothing else, he’ll a minimum of get to make a deep playoff run which may finish with confetti and a Lombardi Trophy.

Listed here are a couple of gamers the Chiefs may goal this offseason.

Vast receiver Stefon Diggs

Expertise has by no means been a difficulty for this former All-Professional, who’s now searching for to affix his fourth staff in 11 years. It’s what occurs off the sector (and within the locker room) that has saved a query mark looming over him.

Some have labeled Diggs a most cancers to his groups — however some nearer to the state of affairs keep it’s not practically so black and white.

“He must have somebody he can discuss to, listening to his issues, work by what was bothering him, recognizing him as a voice,” a Vikings supply who straight noticed Diggs’ tenure advised ESPN.

The supply stated Diggs’ wants can add as much as be “lots.”

“He would possibly throw his helmet. He’ll put on in your quarterback. However discover me a premier receiver that’s not a diva… And he works extremely arduous. That’s why coaches love him.”

Nonetheless, Diggs has over 10,000 receiving yards (and 70 touchdowns) in his profession. He stays probably the most technically sound receivers within the sport — and even at 31 years previous, he averaged 3.9 yards per route run for the Houston Texans in 2024.

However like Brown, Diggs missed vital time when he tore his ACL in Houston’s Week 8 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. So he didn’t hit the statistical numbers he usually reaches. This could permit Kansas Metropolis to craft an incentive-laden deal that will considerably decrease Diggs’s 2025 cap hit by using NLTBE (not more likely to be earned) incentives that received’t rely in opposition to the wage cap till 2026.

Defensive finish Dre’Mont Jones

After dropping his beginning job for the Seattle Seahawks final season, the writing was on the wall for Jones. However regardless of enjoying solely part-time, he nonetheless proved to be a succesful move rusher, logging 4 sacks in 2024.

Simply 28 years previous, a recent begin may do him some good — and assist him return to the shape he had earlier in his profession with the Denver Broncos. Groups are at all times searching for pass-rushing assist — and are prepared to pay a premium for sacks.

At 6 ft 3 and 281 kilos, Jones has the scale and power to set the sting; he may match properly into defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s protection. If he performs at a excessive stage on a one-year contract in Kansas Metropolis, he’s nonetheless younger sufficient to parlay that into one final multi-year deal earlier than he hangs them up.

Offensive deal with Trent Brown

The 31-year-old Brown has been across the block a couple of instances, switching forwards and backwards between proper and left deal with fairly fluidly over his 10-year profession. He has began over 1,000 snaps at left deal with as not too long ago as 2022.

Listed at 6 ft 8 and 370 kilos, he’s a mountain of a person — however on the flip aspect, conditioning is a priority. As well as, his physique may age quicker as a result of his measurement.

Nonetheless, Brown has persistently had a PFF (Professional Soccer Focus) move blocking grade over 70 when enjoying left deal with. Spotrac at the moment has his market worth set at $1.2 million per 12 months, so he may very well be introduced in to compete for the left deal with job — with a flooring as a swing deal with.