Chiefs Search for Free Agent Talent Still Ongoing


By Nick Athan Publisher
Date: Mar 29, 2005



After scouring the internet, talking to my sources around the NFL, I've come to the conclusion that free agency is anything but over for Kansas City. They continue to talk to teams and other players to try to shore up their 2005 roster. With that said, it's time to seperate fact, fiction and opinions on what options remain for the Kansas City Chiefs.




1 . DE Darren Howard (Saints) - The Chiefs appear to have some interest in acquiring New Orleans disgruntled defensive end. He signed a one-year tender in March so he would need to negotiate a new long term contract with the team that acquires him because his salary hit for one year is slightly over $8 million. The Saints were close to a deal with Dallas for Howard. The Cowboys were set to trade their second round pick which is all New Orleans is asking for Howard, but those talks cooled when Howard's contract demands were more than the Cowboys were willing to pony up. This could be the reason the Chiefs have not pulled the trigger on the Surtain deal because they might use their second round pick to acquire Howard from New Orleans. I'd say talks are not as serious as they were when Dallas was in the picture but they could heat up.

The knock on Howard has been his inconsistency. Some compare him to Vonnie Holliday who plays great for a stretch and then disappears. But the difference is Howard averages double digit sacks each season. He went to Kansas State and you know head coach Bill Snyder has talked to Vermeil about Howard. From what we’ve heard, he is interested in coming to Kansas City but it would still have to be considered a long shot. Still if this defense is going to elevate itself to middle of the pack status in the AFC next year, they’ll need to put more pressure on the quarterback. The thought of Howard and Allen at ends is something that has to excite Gunther Cunningham.
2. CB Patrick Surtain (Dolphins) - The Chiefs have not backed off their standing offer of a fourth Rounder for Surtain and that appears to be the only snag in getting this deal done. I don't think the Chiefs are unwilling to sign him to the long term contract he wants so clearly the issue is compensation to the Dolphins. One thing that is being reported on the NFL Network is the fact that teams can trade their Compensatory Draft Picks. That is NOT true. The league does not allow those picks to be traded. Surtain has the Dolphins in the hot seat. They are sticking to their guns about a first day draft choice but its not likely to happen and everyone knows that but Head Coach Nick Saban. The Chargers interest in Surtain is mild and outside of the Chiefs; they have very few options outside of Kansas City. Plus I don’t think the Chargers are going to do much until they settle the quarterback situation. They’ve offered quarterback Philip Rivers to the 49ers and they want to unload that contract if they can before adding another high priced veteran.

Surtain and his agents would like to get this deal wrapped up in the next couple of days because they don’t want talks to drag on. With the NFL Draft less than four weeks away; the Poston Brothers know their clients value will decrease as teams start to clear cap space to sign draft picks. The rookie pool could be near $4 million this year and with the Chiefs, who have 11 draft picks, their hit could be higher. I don’t think the Chiefs will have that problem. I can’t see a scenario where they won’t either trade some of this picks for players or to move up in certain rounds in next months draft. They don’t want to sign eleven draft picks plus add at least two more veteran free agents.