Team free agents 2023: pay or draft to replace?

[RunKC]

Orlando Brown Jr. T KC UFA Market Value
JuJu Smith-Schuster WR KC UFA -
Carlos Dunlap DE KC UFA -
Derrick Nnadi DT KC UFA -
Andrew Wylie T KC UFA -
Chad Henne QB KC UFA -
Ronald Jones II RB KC UFA -
Michael Burton FB KC UFA -
Blake Bell TE KC UFA -
Jerick McKinnon RB KC UFA -
Mecole Hardman WR KC UFA Market Value
Geron Christian T KC UFA -
Deon Bush S KC UFA -
Juan Thornhill S KC UFA -
Elijah Lee OLB KC UFA -
Justin Watson WR KC UFA -
Khalen Saunders DT KC UFA -
Chris Lammons CB KC RFA -
Tommy Townsend P KC RFA -
Tershawn Wharton DE KC RFA -
Jack Cochrane LB KC ERFA -
Rashad Fenton CB KC UFA -
Joe Fortson TE KC ERFA -
Shane Buechele QB KC ERFA -
Prince Tega Wanogho T KC ERFA -
Nick Allegretti G KC UFA

[Hoover]

I think I'd pay
Thornhill, Saunders, and Fortson to reasonable contracts and let the rest walk.

[kccrow]

Alot of season left to determine this... kneejerk thoughts would be:

Orlando Brown Jr. T KC UFA Market Value - Tag and trade, draft replacement early.
JuJu Smith-Schuster WR KC UFA - As much as I'm not overly impressed so far, the smart money is likely going to be to re-sign him.
Carlos Dunlap DE KC UFA - It really depends on the gas left in the tank as the season winds down, but probably walk. Good chance you need to hit this well again in both the draft and FA.
Derrick Nnadi DT KC UFA - If it's another deal like this season, re-sign.
Andrew Wylie T KC UFA - As long as he isn't breaking the bank, he's definitely worth keeping around at least as a reserve.
Chad Henne QB KC UFA - Walk, give Buechele the shot at the #2 and bring in FA competition.
Ronald Jones II RB KC UFA - Walk, low-key FA pickup again.
Michael Burton FB KC UFA - Re-sign.
Blake Bell TE KC UFA - Walk. I do believe the replacements are here already.
Jerick McKinnon RB KC UFA - Friendly deal, re-sign, but otherwise late round pick.
Mecole Hardman WR KC UFA Market Value - Let walk and draft a replacement.
Geron Christian T KC UFA - I'd like to see him back as a decent depth option.
Deon Bush S KC UFA - Really have to see his value on STs and going forward but I'm leaning re-sign at low cost or find another that is.
Juan Thornhill S KC UFA - Not a deal I think you'll get done with Cook in the fold but you never know. I'd like to see him back though. If not, draft a mid-round guy as a #3 potentially.
Elijah Lee OLB KC UFA - I really don't care at this point, might care later on. Would like to see a middle round depth/develop guy brought but wouldnt' be opposed if cheap.
Justin Watson WR KC UFA - Re-sign. He's shown quite a bit of promise working with Patrick and he's not too old yet.
Khalen Saunders DT KC UFA - Not sold he's anything much than a roster spot at this point. Let him walk and draft a DT, ideally rather high.
Chris Lammons CB KC RFA - I wouldn't give Lammons RFA money, let him walk and bring in another project.
Tommy Townsend P KC RFA - Probably re-sign, although he's nothing special. Would be just as open to spinning up another UDFA.
Tershawn Wharton DE KC RFA - Tough one, really. He's a pinch hitter and has value in being just that, but I wouldn't cry either way. You can't let every DT go in one season so I'd look to try to keep him in the fold for the RFA deal.
Jack Cochrane LB KC ERFA - Always re-sign ERFAs.
Rashad Fenton CB KC UFA - Let walk. He's not that good. Probably take another mid-round guy.
Joe Fortson TE KC ERFA - Always re-sign ERFAs.
Shane Buechele QB KC ERFA - Always re-sign ERFAs.
Prince Tega Wanogho T KC ERFA - Always re-sign ERFAs.
Nick Allegretti G KC UFA - If he's a minimum deal guy, yes. I think he gets an above-min deal somewhere though with the thoughts he can start for a club. Probably have his replacement already in Kinnard.

[BWillie]

]Orlando Brown Jr. T KC UFA Market Value - Draft to replace. Tag and trade.
JuJu Smith-Schuster WR KC UFA - Replace
Carlos Dunlap DE KC UFA - Replace
Derrick Nnadi DT KC UFA - Resign
Andrew Wylie T KC UFA - Resign if cheap
Chad Henne QB KC UFA - Buechele time
Ronald Jones II RB KC UFA - TBA
Michael Burton FB KC UFA - Resign
Blake Bell TE KC UFA - Draft a TE in Rd 2 or 3
Jerick McKinnon RB KC UFA - Dont need to replace. Let walk
Mecole Hardman WR KC UFA - Replace
Geron Christian T KC UFA - who cares
Deon Bush S KC UFA - who cares
Juan Thornhill S KC UFA - May be too expensive since we already signed Mathieu replacement
Elijah Lee OLB KC UFA - Resign
Justin Watson WR KC UFA - Resign
Khalen Saunders DT KC UFA - Resign
Chris Lammons CB KC RFA - Replace
Tommy Townsend P KC RFA - Dont care
Tershawn Wharton DE KC RFA - Resign
Jack Cochrane LB KC ERFA - replace
Rashad Fenton CB KC UFA - Either option is close
Joe Fortson TE KC ERFA - Resign
Shane Buechele QB KC ERFA - Resign
Prince Tega Wanogho T KC ERFA - Resign
Nick Allegretti G KC UF. Resign A[/QUOTE]

[DJ's left nut]

Too early to say.

At present, I'd prioritize Thornhill, try to bring Saunders back on the Vet Exception deal, retain the 'obvious' RFAs and let the market sort out a fair amount of the rest of it.

JJSS looks like I thought he would - smart but fungible. Hardman is getting dinged again. Nnadi is...fine. Watson looks interesting - I'd still see if I could get him signed to a 2-3 year deal right now.

If I bring back Brown, I probably hit the draft to replace Wylie. If I don't bring back Brown, I probably keep Wylie as reliable throughput. I'm not ready to make a call on Brown yet though.

[Buehler445]

Yeah, Watson is the only guy I'm sold on enough to try to wrap up right now. I mean, OBJ would be nice, but not without a discount to what he's asking.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Yeah, Watson is the only guy I'm sold on enough to try to wrap up right now. I mean, OBJ would be nice, but not without a discount to what he's asking.

He's the one guy I think we could 'buy low' on. I figure Thornhill's not likely to sell off that FA run if it's not at a premium price. Same story with Hardman.

Saunders might be had at a bit of a discount while he's still deeper on the depth chart. He has to remember having his balls pretty close to the bandsaw just 6 weeks ago - maybe he'd be interested in getting a signing bonus check cashed sooner rather than later...

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Too early to say.

At present, I'd prioritize Thornhill, try to bring Saunders back on the Vet Exception deal, retain the 'obvious' RFAs and let the market sort out a fair amount of the rest of it.

JJSS looks like I thought he would - smart but fungible. Hardman is getting dinged again. Nnadi is...fine. Watson looks interesting - I'd still see if I could get him signed to a 2-3 year deal right now.

If I bring back Brown, I probably hit the draft to replace Wylie. If I don't bring back Brown, I probably keep Wylie as reliable throughput. I'm not ready to make a call on Brown yet though.

Agree with you for the most part.

Juju is hard to say bc of price. I can’t justify paying him $24 million for what I’ve seen. Brown is hard to bc of the structure of the contract. I do think Hardman is very replaceable.

I’d try to get another 2nd rd WR again regardless, but different than Skyy Moore. Maybe a guy like George Pickens this time.

Also would go for DJ Chark. I think he could be cheap and very good here

[O.city]

I just hate having to turn over the WR core again. Juju or Hardman should be kept if possible IMO.

I think they keep OBJ.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Agree with you for the most part.

Juju is hard to say bc of price. I can’t justify paying him $24 million for what I’ve seen. Brown is hard to bc of the structure of the contract. I do think Hardman is very replaceable.

I’d try to get another 2nd rd WR again regardless, but different than Skyy Moore. Maybe a guy like George Pickens this time.

Also would go for DJ Chark. I think he could be cheap and very good here

The Lions gave him $10 million coming off a lost season. If he's cheap it's because he sucked.

I mean I like the tools a lot - but he's gonna get a pretty nice deal if he performs this year, IMO.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by O.city

I just hate having to turn over the WR core again. Juju or Hardman should be kept if possible IMO.

I think they keep OBJ.

If I had to guess I think they keep Juju and OBJ. I’d also guess that they draft another receiver early as well as another pass rusher. Ideally pass rusher first rd, WR second rd.

Juju, MVS, Moore, Watson, draft pick. I like it

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by RunKC

If I had to guess I think they keep Juju and OBJ. I’d also guess that they draft another receiver early as well as another pass rusher. Ideally pass rusher first rd, WR second rd.

Juju, MVS, Moore, Watson, draft pick. I like it

That's just replacing Hardman (a 2nd round draft pick) with a different 2nd round draft pick. And presumptively getting more expensive in the process as Watson and JuJu will be UFAs.

Thus far this has been a fairly pedestrian WR corps. O.City doesn't want to turn the WR room over again but unless it actually shows me something, that's kindof exactly what I'd do.

I dunno - I guess I'm just predisposed to not give JJSS much rope. He's just not impressed me a great deal the last few years. I don't see much there there so the idea of having him 'anchor' the WR corps through little more than inertia isn't really all that appealing to me.

He's...fine. But I sure would like to see someone substantially better in that role. But next season's FA class is pretty much hot garbage. I mean Sterling Shepard and Jakobi Meyers may end up being two of the more sought after options.

Just not too many appealing options on the market. I guess this may be the sort of thing we have to deal with for a bit because it seems unlikely that we'll find an impact year 1 WR in the draft.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

That's just replacing Hardman (a 2nd round draft pick) with a different 2nd round draft pick. And presumptively getting more expensive in the process as Watson and JuJu will be UFAs.

Thus far this has been a fairly pedestrian WR corps. O.City doesn't want to turn the WR room over again but unless it actually shows me something, that's kindof exactly what I'd do.

I dunno - I guess I'm just predisposed to not give JJSS much rope. He's just not impressed me a great deal the last few years. I don't see much there there so the idea of having him 'anchor' the WR corps through little more than inertia isn't really all that appealing to me.

He's...fine. But I sure would like to see someone substantially better in that role. But next season's FA class is pretty much hot garbage. I mean Sterling Shepard and Jakobi Meyers may end up being two of the more sought after options.

Just not too many appealing options on the market. I guess this may be the sort of thing we have to deal with for a bit because it seems unlikely that we'll find an impact year 1 WR in the draft.

They traded the elite HOF'er so they could load up with #2 type guys and draft picks. This is what you get, what everyone wanted by not "overpaying hill".

So yeah, draft and develop and keep around some of these dudes. There won't be a single anchor, it's all tied together.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by O.city

They traded the elite HOF'er so they could load up with #2 type guys and draft picks. This is what you get, what everyone wanted by not "overpaying hill".

So yeah, draft and develop and keep around some of these dudes. There won't be a single anchor, it's all tied together.

Sure - I just question if JJSS or MVS are #2 type guys.

I mean I guess it depends on how you classify them. JJSS has demonstrated his ability to be very productive when he has a #1 WR drawing attention (and he's getting an insane amount of volume), but I'm not convinced that's actually useful in trying to create a deep WR room in the absence of said #1 WR.

As I said when he was first rumored to be coming here - it's just a tools issue for me. Chark was previously mentioned here and with Chark I see a world of tools there. I just don't see them in JuJu. Hell, even with MVS I see tools there being held back by erratic hands.

I just don't know that I see much to work with if he's not left alone in space. We'll see - lots of time left. But sadly, Hardman may be our best hope for a genuine 'upgrade' at WR in the future. Pickin's is awfully slim.

[O.city]

They've got Kelce as the #1 right now.

I don't particularly care for the whole approach, but it's what they're doing.