Ahead of the 2018 season, the Kansas City Chiefs attempted to sign CB Bashaud Breeland late in the process. He visited during training camp hanging out in the dorms at St. Joseph and talking with the coaching staff on the field. Ultimately, the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement on a contract. Breeland would join the Packers for the 2018 season on a one-year deal and become a free agent again in 2019. Brett Veach and his staff doubled back during the 2019 free agency period and added Breeland on a one-year deal.
It was a successful move by the front office. Breeland established himself as a starter in Kansas City and became a pivotal piece in their Super Bowl LIV run. Could the Chiefs opt to employ this strategy in free agency yet again?
One player who took a visit to Kansas City in 2019 is set to become a free agent in 2020. Bengals CB Darqueze Dennard tested the free-agent waters before returning to Cincinnati for the 2019 season. Dennard has been oft-injured throughout his career, playing just one full season in six years. 2019 was no different for Dennard, starting out the season on the reserve/PUP list with a knee injury. He didn’t play his first game until Week 7 and missed Week 8 and Week 9 with a hamstring injury. He played in the final eight games of the season, starting just four games during that time.
Dennard doesn’t have the best production during his NFL career, with just three career interceptions and no seasons with more than six passes defended. The plus side to Dennard is that he plays special teams and offers versatility on the defensive side of the ball. He has the ability to play anywhere from the left and right corner spots to nickel and safety positions. He also might be a little cheaper this go around during free agency.
Another player the Chiefs could revisit is Giants DE Markus Golden who is a St. Louis native and played college ball at the University of Missouri. Yahoo Sports’ Terez Paylor reported the Chiefs’ interest in Golden during last seasons’ free agency period. Golden is coming off perhaps the quietest 10-sack season of any defensive lineman in 2019. He played a full 16-game season for the first time since 2016 and started in each game for the first time during his NFL career. It’s not a certainty that the Chiefs would need to add another edge defender in 2020, but Golden could be a good option if they do go that route.
Kansas City will likely have their eyes set on some other players in free agency too. Specifically, they’ll look for veterans who fit the system and are motivated to chase a Super Bowl ring late in their career. These two players, however, are ones to keep in mind as free agency talk heats up.
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