The Kansas City Chiefs opened the NFL’s tampering period by immediately signing OL Jaylon Moore, potentially putting them at risk of a league fine.
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach arrives before Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium. | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL’s legal free agency tampering period is officially in effect, and it didn’t take long for the first Kansas City Chiefs signing to be announced.
Desperately needing to address the left tackle situation, ESPN‘s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Chiefs are signing offensive tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million contract. Schefter adds that the deal will see the former San Francisco 49ers blocker earn $21.24 million in guaranteed salary.
As wonderful as it is to see the Chiefs adding a legitimate protector to the offensive line, it wouldn’t be surprising if the signing puts general manager Brett Veach in hot water.
Chiefs Free Agency: Kansas City Could Be Fined For Jaylon Moore Signing
Contract tampering wasn’t legal until Monday, however, it’s largely an open secret that NFL teams are negotiating with free agents before that date. Even though it might not be a team’s general manager contacting available names, players are known to communicate among themselves in an effort to lure free agents to new destinations.
In other words, it seems incredibly unlikely that the Chiefs and Moore set up a call and negotiated a contract minutes after noon ET. The two sides were likely communicating within the last few days to ensure that no other suitors could vye for the veteran blocker’s services.
As for what a potential tampering fine might look like, Kansas City fans don’t have to look too far back to find out.
It was only last offseason when the NFL hammered the Atlanta Falcons for tampering after they immediately signed quarterback Kirk Cousins, wideout Darnell Mooney, and tight end Charlie Woerner. Not only were they forced to forfeit a 2025 fifth-round pick, but the Falcons were fined $250,000 while general manager Terry Fontenot was hit with a $50,000 fine of his own.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ signing of running back Saquon Barkley was also under investigation, however, the team was cleared after the NFL “reviewed phone logs, text messages and other documents.”
Time will tell if the potential tampering punishment was worth the Chiefs’ signing Moore. The 27-year-old OT has never been a full-time starter and only played 29% of offensive snaps with the 49ers last season, playing to decent Pro Football Focus grades in terms of pass protection (73.1) and run block (70.1).
Considering how the NFL announced its Falcons investigation three days after the 2024 tampering period began, it won’t be much longer before Chiefs fans learn if their team is on the hot seat. Hopefully, that isn’t the case, and that Veach and Moore just happened to get on the same page with impressive speed.
Even if that probably isn’t the case.
