KANSAS CITY, Mo. — NFL free agency formally begins after 3 p.m. local time on March 13 and the Kansas City Chiefs almost certainly will be scouring the market for impact defensive players, but the teams has other needs and some players fit better than others.
Nick Jacobs and the 4th and 1 podcast crew are exploring the Chiefs' options in free agency at positions of need entering the 2019 offseason.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
[Feb. 28 — Nick Jacobs: Chiefs' biggest offseason needs]
[Feb. 28 — Tod Palmer: Chiefs' biggest offseason needs]
[March 6 — Nick Jacobs: Free-agent defensive backs targets]
[March 7 — Nick Jacobs: Free-agent edge rusher targets]
[March 8 — Linebackers]
[March 9 — Nick Jacobs: Free-agent wide receiver targets]
[March 10 — Nick Jacobs: Free-agent tight end targets]
[Gallery: Grading the Chiefs' use of the franchise tag through the years]
New defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's system needs linebackers who have the closing speed to blitz from multiple angles, no hesitation in their desire or ability to attack, and ideally also are solid in zone coverage drops.
Anthony Hitchens, a big-money addition in free agency last offseason, likely will occupy either the middle or strong-side linebacker spot.
Dorian O'Daniel or Ben Niemann project as fits at the weak-linebacker position.
But the Chiefs probably still need to find another strong-side or middle linebacker to complete the trio and there are precious few players who are ideal fits available.
Here is the limited crop who likely can fill the need:
LINEBACKERS
LB Jordan Hicks, Philadelphia Eagles
Age (2019 season): 27 — Height: 6-1 — Weight: 236
Jordan Hicks
Hicks diagnoses plays well and has great instincts on route combinations as well as knowing how to avoid blocks. He also has the ability to fight through then disengage from blocks when he can't avoid them and secures the proper tackle.
Hicks looks comfortable and fluid dropping into zone coverage. He played mostly as a middle linebacker with the Eagles, but he shifted to weak-side linebacker in sub packages.
A disciplined player in both his technique and assignment responsibilities, Hicks is a year removed from tearing an Achilles' heel and hasn't fully regained the burst he had before the injury, but he inched closer at the end of the season.
LB Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings
Age (2019 season): 27 — Height: 6-5 — Weight: 255
Anthony Barr
Barr would be the ideal strong-side linebacker for the Chiefs. He has top-end athletic ability for his size and would shine in the system.
Barr closes quickly once he identifies the ball, is a really good blitzer in the gap and off the edge, and does a good job keeping outside leverage on blocks while also staying disengaged when reading the backfield to identify the ball carrier's location.
Barr is serviceable in zone and man coverages, but he needs a needs a coach who can help maximize his aggression. He is at his best when he is attacking rather than reading and reacting.
LB C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens
Age (2019 season): 27 — Height: 6-2 — Weight: 250
C.J. Mosley
Mosley probably would need to play either the middle or weak-side linebacker position.
He is a violent tackler. When Mosley hits a ball carrier, the play is over. There's no bouncing off his tackles as Mosley is a player who refuses to be denied play after play.
Mosley is a good blitzer who disengages well from blocks. He gets good depth on his drops in zone coverage, but he often looks a little uncomfortable in coverage.
Still, when Mosley is locked in, there is no stopping him. He also will likely draw interest from the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and San Francisco 49ers along with the Ravens, who will make a strong bid to retain him.
While the Chiefs can improve their linebacker group with one of these additions, there are a lot of qualities linebackers in the first three rounds of the upcoming NFL Draft and those players will come at a reduced age and price with possibly better athletic ability.
Although it might be the offseason, you can listen to the "4th and 1" podcast each week with Tod Palmer and Nick Jacobs on iTunes [itunes.apple.com], Stitcher, Spotifyand TuneIn [tunein.com]. You can also find Nick on twitter @Jacobs71.
You can also find all of the 41 Action News podcasts. including "The 41 Files" and "Chew Diligence" here: https://www.kshb.com/news/podcasts
