The Kansas City Chiefs have some decisions to make this offseason. They have a little over $30 million to work with, quite a few star players to try and wrap up, as well as possibly picking up some free agents from other teams. The Chiefs biggest free agents this offseason are Eric Berry, Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali, and Sean Smith. These defensive players have helped the Chiefs become the seventh-ranked Total defense, ninth-ranked passing defense, the second-ranked defense in creating turnovers, and the eighth-ranked defense in stopping the run in 2015. Who should the Chiefs let walk? Who should they let walk out of these four?
Four Players the Kansas City Chiefs Must Consider Re-signing This Offseason
Derrick Johnson
In the first round of the 2005 draft, Derrick Johnson was selected by the Chiefs 15th overall out of Texas. Since then he has been voted to the Pro Bowl four times, was voted the Pro Bowl Defensive MVP, holds the Chiefs franchise all-time tackling record, and was voted first team All-Pro in 2011 and second team All-Pro in 2015. He has amassed 991 tackles, 26.5 sacks, 22 forced fumbles, 13 interceptions, and 68 passes defensed. However, he missed the 2014 season with a torn Achilles’ tendon and will turn 34 this year. He has expressed interest to stay a Chief but is projected to get $6 million annually according to Rotoworld.com. Will the Chiefs let a fan favorite walk or will they work something out?
Tamba Hali
Speaking of fan favorites, next up is Tamba Hali. With the two outside linebacker, Tamba Hali on one side and Justin Houston on the other, the Chiefs have given plenty of offenses problems. The Liberian-born Hali has been a solid player since being selected 20th overall by the Chiefs out of Penn State. He has been voted to the Pro Bowl six times in a row from 2010-2015 and was named second team All-Pro in 2011 and 2013. He was also the AFC Sacks leader in 2010 and has amassed 553 total tackles, 86 sacks, 32 forced fumbles, two interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns in his career so far. However, he will be 33 at the end of next season and will have knee surgery this offseason. The Chiefs have also drafted Dee Ford to take his spot but are hoping that Hali will take a hometown discount since he has expressed interest to stay in Kansas City.
Sean Smith
Sean Smith was selected by the Miami Dolphins 61st overall in the second round out of Utah. He has put in work for the Chiefs since they signed him in 2013 to a three-year, $18 million dollar deal that included $12 million guaranteed. He was selected as Pro Football Focus All-Pro in 2014 and First Team All-MWC in 2008 while in college. His career stats so far are 352 tackles, three forced fumbles, ten interceptions, one defensive touchdown and 83 passes defensed. In the 2015 season he was suspended for the first four games due to a D.U.I. arrest but is expected to price himself out of the Chiefs range. The Chiefs have defensive rookie of the year candidate Marcus Peters and second-year corner Phillip Gaines, who was injured for most of 2015.
Eric Berry
The final player is Eric Berry, who the Chiefs selected in the 2010 draft fifth overall out of Tennessee. Since he has been in the NFL, Berry has been one of the top safeties in the league. He was diagnosed with Hodgkins’s lymphoma on December 8th, 2014 yet came back to have an All-Pro season in 2015 just nine months later. He has been voted to the Pro Bowl four times in five seasons, was a two time first-team All-Pro in 2013 and 2015, and voted Pro Football Focus Comeback Player of the Year. In his career he has 353 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, two forced fumbles, 41 pass deflections, and three defensive touchdowns. The Chiefs are working hard already to keep Berry but also have to try and keep the other three listed above. Will the Chiefs let one of the best safeties in the league walk, especially after playing like he did in 2015 less than a year after being diagnosed with cancer?
These aren’t the only players that the Kansas City Chiefs have to work on keeping but they are probably the four most important that they have to work with to try and keep. These four could be considered the core of a very solid defense. Will they feel comfortable saying that Ford will take over for Hali? Can they honestly say that Berry should walk? Do you let a corner like Sean Smith move to another team in a league that is tough to find a good, solid corner? Can you let a leader like Johnson go without a strong inside linebackers to take his place? All of these questions and many more must be answered by Kansas City this offseason.
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