The Kansas City Chiefs have always given the best players the opportunity to shine whether they’re top overall draft picks or an undrafted free agent. Several new undrafted free agents will soon join the team and compete for a spot on one of the most competitive rosters in the league. We’ve been tracking the new additions to the team here.
Typically if an undrafted free agent receives a big guaranteed salary it means the team anticipates keeping them. Last year, players like Darryl Williams and Yasir Durant both received big guarantees. One ended up on the 53-man roster while the other ended up on the practice squad.
Below you’ll find contract details and observations about some of the newest undrafted free agents for the Chiefs:
| Player | Base Salary | Signing Bonus |
| SMU QB Shane Buechele | $145,000 | $15,000 |
| BYU LB/DB Zayne Anderson | – | $10,000 |
| Georgia DE Malik Herring | $100,000 | $25,000 |
| WKU DB Devin Key | $50,000 | $15,000 |
| Louisville CB Marlon Character | – | $10,000 |
| Nebraska CB Dicaprio Bootle | $25,000 | $20,000 |
Observations
- Generally speaking, it was a bit more difficult this year for teams to sign undrafted free agents because of the limited talent pool. It’s one reason why you’re seeing lots of guaranteed money in UDFA contracts around the league.
- There seemed to be some competition for SMU QB Shane Buechele, which meant the Chiefs had to pay him quite a bit of guaranteed money. It’s hard to tell what to make of it. On one hand, there’s a clear need for a quarterback at rookie minicamp and his stay might not extend much longer than that. On the other hand, the kid has some seriously impressive arm strength and could be a legitimate developmental option for Kansas City.
- Malik Herring also got a lot of guaranteed money from the Chiefs. The difference there is that Herring tore his ACL during Senior Bowl practices. He seems like a candidate for a redshirt season, similar to what the team did with Tim Ward and Darius Harris in 2019.
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