Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach anticipates using the franchise tag ahead of the 2024 NFL free agency period
The Kansas City Chiefs have a big decision to make involving some key pieces ahead of the new league year and free agency. Chiefs GM Brett Veach spoke to reporters at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, and provided an update on where things stand with two key free agents. One of those […]
The Kansas City Chiefs have a big decision to make involving some key pieces ahead of the new league year and free agency.
Chiefs GM Brett Veach spoke to reporters at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, and provided an update on where things stand with two key free agents. One of those free agents could soon see the franchise tag applied ahead of the 2024 NFL free agency period, but it all starts with the negotiations that will kick off in Indy this week.
"Just like last year, with Chris (Jones), with (L'Jarius Sneed), with a lot of players — we'll get a chance to meet the agents this week," Veach explained.
Which player is the priority for the Chiefs ahead of free agency?
Veach views both players as priorities for his team, but Jones stands atop the list as things currently stand.
"He's at the top of the list," Veach said of Jones. "I love Chris (Jones). (We) tried really hard to get something done (last season) and we didn't, but when we got together right after that Detroit game, we had a great talk. Both parties, I think, want to be here. We'll get to work, and that's certainly a guy we want back and love and want to see him finishing his career here in Kansas City."
The team has the franchise tag as a tool in their back pocket, which can help facilitate a deal for one of the two players. The most likely application is for CB L'Jarius Sneed, who will be nearly twice as cheap on the tag compared to DT Chris Jones. At the same time, long-term deals for both players are the ultimate goal for Veach and his staff.
"We certainly want to do what we can to try to keep both of those players, and that's going to be our goal and intent," Veach said. "Hopefully, we're able to figure something out, but every free agency is different, unique, and crazy. We do have one tag, and I anticipate probably using it to help us, but I think our goal is to try to get both of those players done and then work down the rest of our roster."
Jones and Sneed will help plot the path forward for Brett Veach
Veach is aware that you simply can't pay everyone when you have a team with the level of success that Kansas City has seen over the years. He's going to have to make some tough decisions during this free agency period with over two dozen pending unrestricted free agents.
"You'd like to be able to tag all of the guys and pay all of the guys," Veach said. "It's tough because the more you win, the more you have to pay players. Obviously, when you're having this amount of success, you've got to pay a lot of players a lot of money. Then it's equally as tough because you're drafting late. There are challenges. We'll go through them and we'll always put our best foot forward."
The NFL's franchise tag officially closes a week from today on Tuesday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
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