Tag: Tendered

Chiefs tender exclusive rights free agent QB Shane Buechele

The #Chiefs have tendered exclusive rights free agent QB Shane Buechele, per report.

The Kansas City Chiefs have made an expected move to lock up their projected backup quarterback for the 2023 NFL season.

According to a report from Chiefs Digest’s Matt Derrick, Shane Buechele has received his qualifying tender from the team. He was one of three players set to become an exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) for Kansas City. He’s the second of that group to be tendered a contract along with TE Jody Fortson. The team had until 4:00 p.m. ET today to extend a qualifying offer or risk losing Buechele to free agency.

A former undrafted free agent out of SMU in 2021, Buechele is a player in which the Chiefs have invested a lot of developmental time. The 25-year-old started his rookie season off on the practice squad before being promoted to the 53-man roster at the midseason point. Kansas City kept him on the 53-man roster all of last season as well, even though he was a healthy scratch most weeks as the No. 3 quarterback behind Patrick Mahomes and Chad Henne.

With Henne now retired, this paves the way for Buechele to earn the backup quarterback job in Kansas City. In preseason Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers last year, Buechele got his most extensive look yet, throwing for 166 yards and two touchdowns in the 17-10 victory.

While the team isn’t actively looking at veteran backup options, they could add some more competition to the room through the draft or undrafted free agency. Practice squad player Chris Oladokun is the only other quarterback outside of Mahomes on the 90-man offseason roster

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Chiefs tender exclusive rights free agent TE Jody Fortson

The #Chiefs have tendered exclusive rights free agent TE Jody Fortson, per report.

Fan-favorite tight end Jody Fortson is back with the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year tender.

NFL Network’s James Palmer reported that the team has officially tendered Fortson. He was one of three players who were slated to be an exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) in Kansas City this year. The team is required to extend a qualifying offer before free agency otherwise Fortson would become an unrestricted free agent at the opening of the upcoming free agency period. Based on his years accrued this tender amount should come in at just under $1 million for Fortson in 2023.

An undrafted free agent out of Valdosta State University, the 6-6 and 240-pound tight end is coming off a 2022 NFL season where he had nine receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns after appearing in 13 games and starting in one. Fortson dislocated his elbow in Week 15 and spent some time on injured reserve before he was activated for the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LVII.

This reinforces the tight end position even more for the Chiefs in 2023 with Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Kendall Blanton and Matt Bushman currently under contract as well.

Kansas City still has two ERFA’s left to handle with QB Shane Buechele and OT Prince Tega Wanogho. Expect those to come ahead of the 4:00 p.m. ET deadline on Wednesday.

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Chiefs tendering ERFA RB Derrick Gore

The #Chiefs have tendered another ERFA, this time locking up RB Derrick Gore for the 2022 NFL season.

The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing back another one of their exclusive rights free agents.

According to KC Star beat writer Herbie Teope, the Chiefs are tendering ERFA RB Derrick Gore for 2022. He’ll receive a one-year qualifying offer at a minimum salary for the year. This was another housekeeping move for Kansas City with the start of the NFL’s free agency signing period coming this afternoon. If the Chiefs hadn’t tendered Gore, he would have become an unrestricted free agent at 4:00 p.m. ET.

A former undrafted free agent out of Louisiana-Monroe, Gore bounced around before signing a reserve/future deal with Kansas City in February of 2021. He flashed his skills during training camp, but he didn’t make the 53-man roster outright.

Gore was called up to the active roster after Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered an MCL sprain in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills. He averaged five yards per carry with two touchdowns and 256 yards on 51 attempts throughout the season. He also averaged over 13 yards per catch in the passing game, catching 8-of-9 passes for 105 yards.

With just two running backs on the 90-man offseason roster, it makes plenty of sense to bring Gore back at such a low cost. This year, he’ll have a chance to make the 53-man roster right out of the gate and play a larger role for the team, but expect the team to continue adding depth at the position.

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