Between now and the 2007 NFL Draft, THN will be taking a look at all of the NFL teams’ off-season needs. Up next is the team with the 24th overall pick in the draft, the Kansas City Chiefs.
2006 Results: 9-7 (2nd in AFC West)
2007 Projected Cap Status: $103,200,000 or $5.8 million under the Cap
2006 Season Recap:
Larry Johnson got his standard 1500-plus yards and Eddie Kennison was again the top receiver, but failed to get as many yards as Tony Gonzalez. Trent Green suffered a severe concussion in the first game, and backup Damon Huard went 5-3 in his place. When Green got back under center, the Chiefs faced eight and nine-man fronts as opponents forced Trent to prove he could go deep. Green never really convinced defenses that he could, and the Chiefs went 4-4 down the backstretch.
Despite getting into the playoffs, they drew the eventual Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts on Wild Card weekend, and made a quick exit.
Team needs:
1. Wide Receiver
Eddie Kennison has been the team's top wideout for a while but hasn’t received any help, TE Tony Gonzalez signed in January and has been a favorite target of Trent Green but Samie Parker and Dante Hall are both undersized and haven’t been productive as wide receivers. One of the top 5 WR should be available when the Chiefs go on the clock.
2. Offensive Line
The Chiefs may use an early draft pick on an interior lineman to add depth and youth behind aging veterans C Casey Wiegmann (34 this year), and G Will Shields (36). Shields could actually call it quits this off-season, and finding a replacement for a player like Shields will be near impossible. They also released Kyle Turley, but did sign free agent tackle Damion McIntosh.
3. Defensive Line
DE Jared Allen was tendered an offer that guarantees K.C. first and third round compensation, so he will likely return. Together with the team's top pick last season Tamba Hali, and re-signed backup Jimmy Wilkerson, they're set on the ends. They re-signed DT Ron Edwards, and added free agent DT Alfonso Boone, but they could still use some young talent on the interior.
4. Safety
The Chiefs released veteran Sammy Knight, who started every game the last two seasons.
Exclusive Rights Free Agents: FB Ronnie Cruz
LB Kris Griffin
Un-Restricted Free Agents: OT Jordan Black - signed with Houston
RB Dee Brown
DT Ron Edwards
TE Kendall Gammon
QB Damon Huard
LB Kawika Mitchell
DT James Reed
CB Lenny Walls
DE Jimmy Wilkerson - re-signed
Restricted Free Agents: DE Jared Allen
WR Samie Parker
OT Kevin Sampson
CB Benny Sapp
LB Rich Scanlon
PK Lawrence Tynes
Free Agent Signings: LB Donnie Edwards - 3 years
MLB Napoleon Harris - 6 years
LS J.P. Darche - 4 years
OT Damion McIntosh - 6 years
Released: S Sammy Knight
OL Kyle Turley
Check out more at THN's exclusive 2007 NFL Draft section.
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