Getty Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks Tom Brady (#12) and Blaine Gabbert (#11).
The Kansas City Chiefs are signing veteran quarterback Blaine Gabbert, according to “The Pat McAfee Show” on April 18.
BREAKING: Blaine Gabbert is signing with the Kansas City Chiefs #PMSLive
Gabbert, 33, will “compete with Shane Buechele to be Mahomes’ primary backup,” according to Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star. Teope wrote that the deal is for one year but that financial terms were not disclosed.
After being drafted 10th overall out of Missouri in 2011, he has failed to meet expectations as a starter, going 5-22 with the Jacksonville Jaguars with a 22-to-24 touchdown-to-interception ratio and getting cut after the 2013 season.
But Gabbert has proved to be a quality backup. Gabbert spent four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and one with the Arizona Cardinals after being cut by the Jaguars. In 2020, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who also signed Tom Brady that offseason and would go on to win the Super Bowl against the Chiefs that season.
Over the course of his career, Gabbert has completed 56.4% of his passes for 9,302 yards, 51 touchdowns and 47 interceptions in 67 games played.
Blaine Gabbert Adds Veteran Presence Behind Patrick Mahomes
Back in February during the NFL Scouting Combine, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said that finding a quarterback who can intellectually challenge Patrick Mahomes was difficult to find but a welcomed addition in wake of Chade Henne’s retirement.
Gabbert could potentially provide that challenge. Having been in the league for over a decade with plenty of starting reps under his belt, Gabbert is a veteran quarterback whose experience rivals Henne’s (13 years, 78 games played, 54 starts). That means he might have some wisdom he can share with Mahomes along with the ability to perform capably in an emergency situation.
Gabbert joins a quarterback room in Kansas City that includes Mahomes, Buechele and Chris Oladokun.
Twitter Reacts to Chiefs Signing Blaine Gabbert
Twitter users reacted to the Chiefs signing Gabbert.
“I think this means KC is not picking a QB in this draft, guys,” Claude Thompson of National Review wrote.
“Mizzou produces top tier backups and there is nothing wrong with 10+ years in the league while making a few mill,” another user wrote.
“Okay I like this move. A real back up with starting experience and can hold the offense if need be,” Daniel Harms of Fantasy Football Astronauts wrote.
Chiefs 2023 Free Agency Tracker
Here is a list of the players the Chiefs have signed during free agency thus far, along with their contracts, according to Over The Cap:
- OT Jawaan Taylor (4 years, $80 million)
- DE Charles Omenihu (2 years, $20 million)
- S Mike Edwards (1 year, $3 million)
- LB Drue Tranquill (1 year, $5 million)
- DT Tershawn Wharton (1 year, $2 million)
- OL Nick Allegretti (1 year, $2.5 million)
- OL Prince Tea Wanogho (tendered)
- TE Jody Fortson (tendered)
- P Tommy Townsend (tendered)
- QB Shane Buechele (tendered)
- DT Derrick Nnadi (1 year, $1.2 million)
- TE Blake Bell (1 year, $1.1 million)
- DT Byron Cowart (1 year, $1.08 million)
- DT Phil Hoskins (1 year, $940,000)
- S Deon Bush (1 year, $1.3 million)
- WR Richie James (1 year, $1.2 million)
- WR Justin Watson (2 years, $3.5 million)
- QB Blaine Gabbert
Here are the players who remain free agents:
- DE Frank Clark
- DE Carlos Dunlap
- DT Brandon Williams
- TE Jordan Franks
- RB Jerick McKinnon
- LB Darius Harris