ChiefsPlanet - Chiefs 10 free agents that could help the defense

I've mentioned a couple of these players in prior threads. Some of the others I didn't realize were FAs. Just guessing that the Bob Sutton fans would be especially interested in this...

https://kckingdom.com/2017/11/09/kan...-help-defense/

Kansas City Chiefs: 10 free agents that could help the defense

#10 Sean Spence – ILB

Truth be told, I was very hesitant to put any inside linebackers on this list. The Kansas City Chiefs have utilized a lot of assets to address this position, and the results have been minimal. However, if the team is still looking for help there, then Sean Spence could be a pretty good fit.

Sean Spence is a solid tackler who can drop into coverage without being completely lost. That seems to be exactly what the Chiefs are looking for at the moment. Spence could allow the Chiefs to feel less compelled to consistently line up in Nickel and Dime formations. He had his best season last year, starting to show some playmaking ability.

I’m not going to parade Sean Spence around as a huge signing though. Spence was quickly buried on the Colts roster this offseason and then released. The odds are that he simply isn’t that good a football player. On top of that, the Chiefs have already invested so much at inside linebacker, I can’t see them doing it again.

#9 Jarvis Jones – OLB

Where has the Kansas City Chiefs pass rush been this year? Despite the return of Justin Houston, the Chiefs have still had some issues in creating pressure this year. A lot of that has to do with health issues for Tamba Hali and Dee Ford. KC needs to keep getting healthy, but they could possibly also use another man in the rotation.

Jarvis Jones never lived up to his ability in Pittsburgh, mostly due to injuries. However, when he was healthy, Jones did show a penchant for forcing turnovers. In his last two seasons, Jones forced three fumbles, recovered three, and grabbed a pair of picks. He also showed decent ability in pass coverage.

The big question with Jarvis Jones though is whether or not he can stay healthy. Someone will surely give him an opportunity in 2018, but is he worth signing before then? There is also a question of what kind of return the Chiefs would get for their investment. Would Jones be any kind of an upgrade over what is already in KC?

#8 Dwight Lowery – FS

One area that doesn’t get talked about much with the Kansas City Chiefs defense is the safety group. However, they should not be avoiding scrutiny right now. Granted, Eric Berry is out, and that hurts, but the play has to get better from this group. Dwight Lowery might be able to help that.

Dwight Lowery is a savvy veteran with a lot of experience in a variety of defenses. He could help provide a fresh look to the deep secondary in KC. Lowery also has some quality ball skills that could come in handy. The Chiefs secondary hasn’t pulled in very many turnovers this season.

On the downside, Dwight Lowery is getting up there in years. He has certainly lost a step over time. There is also the fact that he is strictly a free safety. While the Chiefs deep secondary has had problems, that really hasn’t been the fault of Ron Parker in the free safety spot.

#7 Will Redmond – CB (Signed by Chiefs)

While the Kansas City Chiefs cornerback group could really use a veteran, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t look at young guys as well. One player who might fit that mold is Will Redmond, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers. Well, I say formerly, though he was hardly with them at all.

Will Redmond was a third round pick for the 49ers this year, but was waived with an injury designation early on this year. However, he’s looking to get back onto the field, and actually worked out for the Chiefs just this week. Kansas City didn’t opt to sign him on the spot, but that doesn’t mean they won’t pull the trigger.

Youth and injury history will be the big question marks for Will Redmond. Has he fully healed, and is he ready to go? Is he ready to step on the field this year, or would it be wiser to wait until the offseason to sign him? It’s a tough call, but Redmond did show a lot of talent at the college level before injuries derailed him.

#6 Antonio Cromartie – CB

The secondary problems of the Kansas City Chiefs are pretty well-documented at this point. Apparently enough so that Antonio Cromartie has taken notice. Earlier this week, Cromartie jumped into the middle of a conversation about whether or not the Chiefs should take a look at him.

There are few ball hawks in NFL history more proficient than Antonio Cromartie. At the height of his career, he was a constant threat on any ball thrown to his side of the field. On top of that, Cromartie correctly points out his familiarity with Bob Sutton’s defense from their time in New York. That would make for a smooth transition.

Of course, we can’t pretend that we are getting vintage Antonio Cromartie. The last few seasons of his career were not very good ones for the veteran corner. Having been off the field for some time now, it’s hard to imagine he’s ready to jump back out there.

Kansas City Chiefs: Defensive Free Agents

When the Kansas City Chiefs lost Eric Berry for the year, it was a major blow to the secondary. It put the Chiefs in a major hole on the defensive side of the ball. You can’t replace Berry with any one player, but former Bills safety Aaron Williams is a guy who could help fill a lot of the void. In fact, KC looked that direction earlier this year.

Aaron Williams is a versatile playmaker who can step up both in the passing and running games. Over the course of his career, he was a difference maker in the Bills defense who allowed the team to get creative in their scheming. That is something that the Chiefs have been missing since losing Eric Berry.

The concern with Aaron Williams is his history of neck injuries. Williams was released by the Bills because they didn’t have any confidence in his ability to play a full season. However, the Chiefs don’t need him for a full season.

#4 Darelle Revis – CB

If Antonio Cromartie is on this list, then you had better believe Darrelle Revis is on it. If you are going off of pure name recognition, then the Kansas City Chiefs would have to consider Revis. A reunion with Bob Sutton in Kansas City would certainly set off more than a few headlines for the NFL.

Darelle Revis was once the single best cornerback in the entire NFL, and held that title for quite a while. Revis shut down an entire half of the field for the Jets and made Rex Ryan look like he knew what he’s doing (teed up a Bob Sutton joke for you guys). In fact, that role is exactly what Bob Sutton is asking of Marcus Peters right now.

However, the last season Darrelle Revis spent in the NFL was forgettable at best. Granted, the Jets had a lot of problems, but you couldn’t say that Revis was making things better. It is a legitimate question to ask whether there is anything at all left in the tank.

#3 Sam Shields – CB

Have you noticed the trend yet? Yes, the Kansas City Chiefs secondary is in this much need of help right now. With the Chiefs corners struggling the way they are, finding a quality veteran should be at the top of Brett Veach’s list. Of course that’s easier said than done right now, but Sam Shields is worth looking into.

Sam Shields was once one of the few bright spots in the Packers defense. He was a solid presence in the Green Bay secondary. Shields could bring a similar presence to the Chiefs defense. In a lot of ways he would fill the void left when Sean Smith departed for Oakland.

However, there are concerns (as with all these guys). The first is that Sam Shields missed almost all of 2017 after suffering a concussion. He’s had a number of those. However, Shields is adamant that he’s looking to return in 2018. Unfortunately, there may also be a two-game suspension to deal with.

#2 Byron Maxwell – CB

There is one free agent cornerback that will be getting a lot of attention on the market right now. Don’t be surprised if the Kansas City Chiefs decide to also get in on Byron Maxwell. The veteran corner was a surprise release by the Miami Dolphins, and he won’t stay unemployed for long.

Byron Maxwell isn’t a game-breaker by any means, but he is a solid defensive back who can put in a reliable performance. At the very least, he would be a quality player to bring in when the Chiefs move Steven Nelson into the slot in Nickel and Dime formations. That would be a big plus to the KC defense.

Unlike most of the other players on this list, the red flags on Byron Maxwell are actually pretty limited. He hasn’t played 16 games in a year since 2013, but the Chiefs don’t need him for that long. The reason for him being let go in Miami had more to do with scheme change than anything, not a lack of production.

#1 Ra’Shede Hageman – DT

If you want to give the Kansas City Chiefs defense a real shot in the arm, then go sign a playmaker still in his prime. Circumstances have unfolded to where former top prospect Ra’Shede Hageman is now an available free agent in the NFL. If he is to ever get back into the NFL, it will likely have to involve a one-year deal somewhere.

Ra’Shede Hageman finally started to play up to his potential towards the end of last season. That’s not to say he was playing poorly before that. He really wasn’t, he just hadn’t met expectations. However, Hageman’s big play ability was finally starting to show up. There is still a tremendous ceiling here.

So why is he available? Well, that’s the crux of this issue. Ra’Shede Hageman was charged with domestic violence in March of 2016. The charges came to light this year and Hageman was suspended by the NFL and released by the Falcons. However, the NFL has now lifted that suspension, meaning Hageman can play.

Of course…is that a move any team is willing to make?

The Kansas City Chiefs are still one of the best teams in the NFL. However, their weaknesses have been exposed, and teams know how to beat them now. The Chiefs have to do something to address this defense, and it may be time to look for outside help. Unfortunately, the cupboard is pretty bare when it comes to that.