***Official Free Agency Thread***

Finally, real football news/rumors.

Per Rotoworld:

The Chiefs are expected to show interest in FB Le'Ron McClain once free agency negotiating commences.

McClain would be an interesting short-yardage complement to Jamaal Charles. While he does have versatility to lead block as well as grind out tough yards, we wonder if McClain's addition could push Thomas Jones off the roster. Jones is going on age 33 and coming off a near-completely ineffective season.

The Chiefs have a contractual right of first refusal on free agent Kevin Curtis that was built into his deal when they signed him in January.

Curtis played 30 snaps in the Chiefs' playoff loss to the Ravens. The right of first refusal allows Kansas City to match all offers he'll receive on the open market. The 33-year-old shouldn't cost more than the veteran's minimum to sign.

Kelly Gregg is going to be released. Hes been playing a lot of NT for the Ravens who are typically a top D, even after drafting Nghata.

Adam Schefter

John Clayton reports that NFL teams were granted the right to sign undrafted players Monday night. So dealings are underway.
2 minutes ago

Nick Wright thinks the Chiefs may trade Carr or Flowers.


-You mother fucking better not Scott!!!

Talking about that Pioli might not want pay 2 cornerbacks that much.

TIER 2 — The borderline Pro Bowlers.

Aubrayo Franklin, DT

Why: Because he doesn't rush the passer or accrue stats in his role as the nose tackle in the 3-4, Franklin has flown under the national radar. He lacks the elite athleticism of Haloti Ngata or the massive frame of Albert Haynesworth, but no interior lineman in football is better at reading blocking schemes and manipulating the offensive front. He creates double-teams by occupying two offensive linemen on most plays, freeing up Patrick Willis to make plays behind him. It's safe to say that he's popular with his teammates; as Willis noted during the 2010 offseason, "I pray to God they keep Aubrayo."

Why not: Franklin only really has two seasons of dominant play underneath his belt, and they both came in contract years. (Franklin was franchised by the 49ers after the 2009 season.) The 49ers are trying to get the word out that Franklin's 2010 season wasn't all that great, but if he did slip, it was only because he was downright incredible in 2009.

Where to: Kansas City, which tried to get by with overmatched veteran Ron Edwards at the nose last year and saw their run defense fall apart during the second half of the season as a result. Washington could also be involved here.

Babb says the Chiefs are pretty set at nose tackle

"#Bills LB Paul Posluszny plans to test free agent market."

NFLdraftinsider

--mother fucking yes please !

Clabo is supposed to be the top priority by his team.. so he isn't getting away.

Wallace Gillberry tweeted a thread on a Falcons site about how they think they should sign him..

CB Demond Washington from Auburn to the Kansas City Chiefs!!!!!

Washington ran a 4.3 40. Hes supposed to be a real good KR too.

Juan Diaz LB Iowa to kc Chiefs

OK that last one doesn't even exist, and I can't delete it for some reason. But the Chiefs also got OT David Mims.

6'8". 341 lbs

Mims is good!

David Mims
OT, Virginia Union
6-foot-8, 331 pounds
Projection: Late rounds
Scouting Reports

From National Football Post:

A massive offensive tackle prospect who possesses a long, good-looking frame. Carries his weight well, isn't fat by any stretch and actually looks a bit thin throughout his upper half. Showcases impressive power at the point of attack in the run game and can absolutely dominate defenders at his level of competition at the point. Is a pretty good bender for his size and is really heavy handed; once he gets his paws on you the battle is over. Now, obviously he gets a bit upright and isn't real technically sound maintaining leverage and using proper hand placement, but the skill set is most definitely there.

Possesses above-average range for his size in pass protection. Showcases good coordination and balance when asked to mirror and again likes to get his hands on defenders and anchor. Doesn't exhibit much of a kick-slide and is really raw and upright with his footwork. But talking with sources the guy doesn't even have an offensive line coach at his school.

Impression: Physically the guy has the size, strength and athleticism to play in the league and is dripping with upside. Is going to take some time, but is an ideal later-round developmental guy who could really catch fire with some time.

From Sideline Scouting:

Positives: Long arms with long well proportioned frame... Sets up reasonably well... Good punch... Solid lateral movement and slide... Good strength... Very solid anchor, can be difficult to move... Solid balance... Reasonably good run blocker... Generates good power... Can control opponent once locked on... Can get movement in the running game... Can get to the second level... Adequate flexibility and body controlling... Mean streak... Needs some coaching but has good upside at Right Tackle.

Negatives: His height makes it difficult for him to maintain good pad level... Gets too upright and defenders can get underneath him... Pumps his arms and looks a little awkward backing off the line... Hands get too high and wide... Kick slide needs work, choppy footwork... Doesn't redirect especially well.

@JoshLooney
Josh Looney
Undrafted free agency is like college recruiting it will be interesting to see how many rooks back out of verbals when signing day comes
3 minutes ago via TweetDeck

Oh that sucks that the aren't "officially" signed yet. Hopefully we don't lose out on Mims! He will make the roster. I wonder how good he would have been if he had an OL coach in school? He sure has the size, muscle, and athleticism!

Pioli I will cut your balls off in you get rid of Flowers or Carr!

very cool on Mims! sounds like a mauler

No O-line coach? Mims is gonna be very raw coming in, but I love the upside.

Flowers isn't going anywhere. I would be shocked if Pioli traded Carr, but I'm sure he does have a price tag. If we could sign a Johnathan Joseph, Chris Houston or Richard Marshall, why not try to get a 2nd rounder out of him?

Chiefs should be player in free-agent frenzy
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star

Now that the NFL lockout has ended, get ready for the start of an unprecedented, free-agency free-for-all.

Starting at 9 a.m. today, teams can start signing their draft picks as well as undrafted rookies, they can begin negotiating with their own free agents and other teams’ free agents, and they can make trades.

And at 5 p.m. Friday, the frenzy will kick into high gear as teams can sign any eligible free agents and squeeze what usually takes four months to accomplish into four days.

The Chiefs, who’ll need to reach the new minimum salary-cap requirements outlined in the new collective-bargaining agreement, should be especially active before training camp opens Thursday and through the weekend.

There are enough free agents out there to start a decent expansion team, and The Star has selected its All-Free Agent team that is headlined by the most coveted cornerback out there, Oakland’s Nnamdi Asomugha.

Asomugha would probably cost more than $15 million a season. Line him up opposite Brandon Flowers and move Brandon Carr into the nickel position in front of young safeties Eric Berry and Kendrick Lewis, and the Chiefs would be pretty tough to throw against.

Another big need is at nose tackle in the Chiefs’ 3-4 front.

San Francisco’s Aubrayo Franklin would fill the bill. Franklin, 30, was so highly thought of in 2009, the 49ers put the franchise tag on him. Franklin, 6-1 and 317 pounds, would be the space-eater the Chiefs need to buttress ends Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey.

Franklin’s 49ers teammate, outside linebacker Manny Lawson, whom the Chiefs passed on in 2006 in favor of Tamba Hali, could give the club another needed pass rusher.

How about a rough, tough inside linebacker to pair with Derrick Johnson?

That would be Paul Posluszny of the Buffalo Bills. Posluszny, the Bills’ defensive MVP in 2008 and team captain in 2009, led the club with 151 total tackles — 103 solo — in 2010, including a career-best 18 in last season’s overtime loss to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. If not Posluszny, 26, they can consider Tennessee’s Stephen Tulloch, who had a breakout year with 160 tackles last season, ranking second in the NFL. Tulloch, also 26, has 4 1/2 sacks and two interceptions in his four NFL seasons.

The Chiefs have plenty of needs on offense that can be addressed through free-agency as well.

Although the Chiefs selected wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin with their first-round pick, they’re still in need of a speed receiver to stretch the defense and take heat off Dwayne Bowe and Baldwin. There’s a bevy of wide receivers on the market, led by the New York Jets’ mercurial Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards and Minnesota’s Sidney Rice.

Santana Moss might be 32, but he caught 93 passes with six touchdowns last season for Washington, though he averaged a career-low 12.0 yards. And keep your eye on Arizona’s Steve Breaston, who’s not a burner, but he played for Todd Haley with the Cardinals.

Terrell Owens or Randy Moss? Let’s not go there.

The Chiefs did not address offensive tackle in the draft, and the pickings may be slim in free-agency. Jammal Brown has been a serviceable player at New Orleans and Washington. Matt Light collected three Super Bowl rings at New England, but he is 33.

A team never has enough running backs, and in the event the Chiefs want to fortify the position behind Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, they can consider DeAngelo Williams, a former 1,000-yard back for Carolina; Ronnie Brown of Miami; and Michael Bush of Oakland. And wouldn’t it be nice to see fullback Tony Richardson, at 39, finish his career with the Chiefs, clearing holes for Charles and Jones?

If the Chiefs want to bolster their special teams, former Missouri quarterback Brad Smith showed with the Jets that he can return and cover kicks as well as play wide receiver and Wildcat quarterback.

Among players who were passed up in the draft, the top prospects include Boston College inside linebacker Mark Herzlich, who might have been a premium draft pick had he not missed the 2009 season because of a bout with cancer; Kentucky running back Derrick Locke; offensive tackles Willie Smith of East Carolina and Kyle Hix of Texas; guard Zach Hurd of Connecticut; and defensive tackle Sealver Siliga of Utah.

Chiefs just signed Josue Paul out of Central Connecticut. The guy is a 5'11" 223 lb WR/KR who runs around a 4.5. That's right, 223 lb at 5'11"! Watching a highlight film of him it's hard to believe that he wasn't drafted while watching him break tackle after tackle carrying the ball like a running back. He was never brought down on first contact and had a helluvalot of wiggle to his game. But then you see there's maybe a half dozen fans attending the game and realize how small of a school he must have attended. Hopefully he knows how to play kick coverage because he could be a real gem of an UDFA.