Jan 21, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Blake Bell (81) leaves the field after warm ups prior to an AFC divisional round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The Chiefs will be an attractive free-agent destination in the offseason. Kansas City should clear cap space by letting these four players depart.
As long as Patrick Mahomes is healthy and in his prime, free agents are going to want to come and play for the Chiefs. That makes it crucial for the team’s front office to let their own free agents leave at the proper time rather than overpaying them to stay in Kansas City.
GM Brett Veach and his staff don’t have too many controversial decisions to make about their own free agents this offseason. The biggest challenge will be to find a way to keep left tackle Orlando Brown in the fold. Some fans might think it’s in the team’s best interest to let him walk and draft a cheaper replacement, but there’s no price too high for protecting Mahomes.
In sharp contrast to Brown, Kansas City should be prepared to let the following four players find new homes after the Super Bowl. Backup tight end is definitely not a place where the Chiefs should spend a lot of cap space.
4. The Chiefs don’t need Blake Bell
Bell is a decent player but he’s nothing special. In fairness, no tight end is going to see a ton of snaps playing behind Travis Kelce. The fact that Bell also finds himself behind Noah Gray on the depth chart further explains why the Chiefs should let him go.
If Bell is willing to come back on a veteran’s minimum then Kansas City would be justified in retaining him. Paying even a penny more than that to a third-string tight end is a luxury the Chiefs shouldn’t be engaged in. Finding a new tight end late in the draft or in the bargain basement of free agent shopping should be the right move for Kansas City’s front office.
