The Kansas City Chiefs are sitting at 10-6 and have clinched the AFC West title for the eighth consecutive season. This was done despite an offense that has struggled mightily at times in 2023.
In 2022, the Chiefs led the league in yards and points per game. In 2023, the team is 9th in yards and 12th in points. This decline can mainly be attributed to a lackluster wide receiver room. Rashee Rice has 79 catches for 938 yards and 7 touchdowns. However, no other receiver has more than 27 catches or 460 yards.
It’s safe to say that the Chiefs need to upgrade the group of pass catchers this offseason. Today, let’s identify 3 upcoming free agents who would help the Chiefs’ offense for 2024.
Calvin Ridley
Ridley missed the entire 2022 season due to a gambling suspension. The Atlanta Falcons then traded the embattled receiver to the Jacksonville Jaguars last offseason. It would’ve been reasonable to expect some rust for Ridley, but that has not been the case.
The Jaguar WR has caught 70 passes for 910 yards and 7 TDs in 2023. That level of production would be game-changing for the Chiefs.
Ridley will be expensive, with Spotrac estimating the receiver to land $17M annually. However, the Chiefs are currently slated to enter the offseason with around $34M in cap space.
Mike Evans
Mike Evans has been one of the most consistent and underrated receivers in the league for years now. The veteran receiver has caught 76 passes for 1,233 yards and 13 TDs in 2023. The receiver has never played fewer than 13 games in a season and never finished a season with fewer than 1,000 yards.
Evans is the definition of reliable. The Chiefs would have to pay up to get him, as Spotrac projects the veteran to secure $23.5M this offseason.
Evans would give Mahomes something he hasn’t had- a big-bodied, reliable receiver to pair with Travis Kelce. Evans isn’t the fastest guy in the world, but he is probably the best in the league at contested catches and is rarely injured.
Derrick Henry
Much has been made about the Chiefs’ passing attack, and rightfully so. However, the ground game has not been spectacular either. For the 2nd season in a row, the Chiefs are in the bottom half of the league in rushing yards per game in 2023.
Derrick Henry will be the top name on the market at running back, but likely won’t break the bank due to his advancing age. However, it’s clear Henry still has some left in the tank. Henry has crossed 1,000 yards for the fifth time in his career and could also set a career-high in receptions.
Isiah Pacheco would still receive carries and contribute in the passing game. However, Henry would give the team a solid 3rd-down back and a bruiser for short-yardage situations.