Kansas City Chiefs' first moves of free agency show new direction on defense
If you would've told most people after the "first day" of free agency that Tyrann Mathieu and Charvarius Ward are moving on and Frank Clark is staying in KC, a lot of people probably would've thought you were joking. While there were never any official reports, there was all kinds of speculation regarding Frank Clark's […]
If you would've told most people after the "first day" of free agency that Tyrann Mathieu and Charvarius Ward are moving on and Frank Clark is staying in KC, a lot of people probably would've thought you were joking.
While there were never any official reports, there was all kinds of speculation regarding Frank Clark's future with the team. Whether the team traded him or released him – it sounded like he was gone.
Clark's exit didn't happen Monday and it likely won't happen, at all. The Chiefs restructured his deal to where he'll make $29 million over the next two years. He can make up to $36 million with incentives. In all, the Chiefs should create around $11 million in cap room after the move.
Chiefs GM Brett Veach did say the defensive line was going to be the No. 1 priority in free agency. Restructuring Clark falls in line with that. It also sounds like Clark is taking a bit of a payday to stay with the team, which helps. But when combining the facts Clark hasn't played a full season since his arrival and that he only had 4.5 sacks a year ago (10.5 over the last two seasons), it still remains rather surprising that he'll stay with the team.
On the other hand, Mathieu has been a clutch part of the defense ever since he arrived in Kansas City. Earlier reports did say the Chiefs would allow Mathieu to test free agency. However, it's logical to assume both sides would've come to some sort of agreement considering the how much they mean to each other.
But that didn't happen. Instead, the safety signed former Texans safety Justin Reid, who's a really good player in his own right, on Monday to essentially replace Mathieu.
As we all know, this is the NFL. We outsiders view it as a simple game that we all love, but the players, coaches, and front office-types all view it as a business. So, Mathieu's departure from the Chiefs is simply a part of the process.
But what is really surprising is the Chiefs didn't even offer him a contract. They were that done with him, apparently. Or, they wanted Reid that badly. Either way, the fact the Chiefs just left Mathieu in the cold was largely unexpected.
Ward's exodus to San Francisco is a bit of a surprise, as well. He signed a three-year deal worth up to $42.5 million and will slot in as the 49ers No. 1 cornerback. Ward's contract isn't cheap, by any means, but he was regarded as one of the lesser-expensive players on the market. He's also just 25-years-old, so he's just entering his prime. However, the Chiefs couldn't compete with that price tag, especially after signing Reid.
As it currently stands, the Chiefs are a bit light at corner now that Ward is gone. But the good news is that there are still some quality corners on the market and the draft is also littered with talent and production at the position.
Veach did say he was going to work to overhaul the defense earlier in the year and that appears to be the Chiefs' MO one day into free agency. When considering the pieces in place, the pieces no longer in place, and the overall thought process after "Day One", it's clear the Chiefs are indeed reworking the defense.
The Chiefs obviously have a plan and they're working within the structure of said plan. That's always a good thing, at the end of the day, and the organization has shown in the past that it knows what it's doing. It'll be interesting to see if this year's moves have the same effect as the ones made during the 2019 offseason.
Featured image via Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
