The Kansas City Chiefs have been busy during the legal tampering period of free agency, and their activity should only ramp up in the coming days.
After missing out on Ronnie Stanley—who re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens—Kansas City quickly pivoted to Plan B at left tackle, signing Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million contract.
Moore is another key piece in the Chiefs’ offensive line overhaul as they look to prevent a repeat of the relentless pressure Patrick Mahomes faced in their Super Bowl loss.
The Chiefs also bolstered their secondary, adding cornerback Kristian Fulton on a two-year, $20 million deal. Fulton is expected to start opposite Jaylen Watson, allowing All-Pro Trent McDuffie to move inside to the slot.
Other moves included signing running back Elijah Mitchell to a one-year deal and retaining several key players, including Marquise Brown, Matt Araiza, Mike Caliendo, Nick Bolton, and James Winchester.
However, the Chiefs have also suffered losses. DeAndre Hopkins, Justin Reid, Tershawn Wharton, and Justin Watson have all departed, leaving Kansas City with work to do in free agency.
A smart move would be reuniting with these five former players who could provide valuable depth and experience.
1. Tanoh Kpassagnon, Defensive Lineman
The Chiefs are alarmingly thin on the interior defensive line, with only three players under contract: Chris Jones, Siaki Ika, and Fabien Lovett.
Bringing back Tanoh Kpassagnon could give them another versatile lineman capable of sliding inside and adding much-needed muscle to their front.
Kpassagnon, who last played for the Chiefs from 2017 to 2020, spent the past four years with the New Orleans Saints. He tore his Achilles last offseason but managed to return for the final three games of the year.
An entire offseason to rebuild strength should do wonders, as his limited action in 2024 was forgettable. However, his 2023 campaign was one of his best.
If the Chiefs can get the 2023 version of Kpassagnon, this signing could be a sneaky bargain—much like finding a hidden gem in a garage sale. He wouldn’t be a star, but he’d provide valuable depth to Kansas City’s defensive line rotation.
2. Ben Niemann, Linebacker
Re-signing Nick Bolton to a three-year, $45 million deal will be a major boost for the Chiefs’ defense. At 24, he’s an ascending player in the middle of their unit and has racked up at least 100 tackles in three of his four NFL seasons.
Bolton, a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, will hold down the middle, flanked by Leo Chenal and Drue Tranquill. However, Kansas City could still use another depth piece at linebacker.
Ben Niemann could be a perfect fit.
He was an undrafted free agent gem that Kansas City unearthed in 2018. Niemann spent the first four years of his career with the Chiefs before making stops with the Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, and most recently, the Detroit Lions.
This time around, Niemann wouldn’t be expected to log as many defensive snaps as he did in his first stint with Kansas City. Instead, he’d serve as a depth piece, primarily contributing on special teams—a role much better suited to his skill set on a championship-caliber roster.
Bringing Niemann back wouldn’t make headlines, but every orchestra needs background musicians to keep the symphony in harmony.
3. Willie Gay, Linebacker
Another linebacker the Chiefs could consider for a reunion is Willie Gay. Gay signed a one-year deal with the Saints last offseason but is now an unrestricted free agent once again.
His lone season in New Orleans was forgettable, and a return to Kansas City—where he previously thrived—would make plenty of sense. It also appears to be a reunion he’d welcome.
4. Byron Pringle, Wide Receiver
Byron Pringle isn’t a player who would give them a proven asset on the field. However, he is a known commodity for the coaching staff.
His best NFL season came in 2021 with the Chiefs when he caught 42 passes for 568 yards and five touchdowns. Unfortunately, that season alone equals about half the output he’s had throughout his entire five year career.
After leaving Kansas City in 2021, he spent one year in Chicago and the next in Washington before the Commanders released him last September. He’s not a signing fans would get excited about, but could end up making the roster as WR5.
