The Kansas City Chiefs have already parted ways with key starters Trent McDuffie, Jawaan Taylor, and Mike Danna, and the latest NFL free agency news could lead to another KC departure.
“The [Los Angeles] Rams and [safety] Kam Curl have agreed on a three-year, $36 million deal with a max value of $39m, sources tell The Insiders,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on March 6.
Garafolo went on to note the spike in Curl’s salary. Unfortunately, this NFL news impacts the Chiefs in two ways, and both involve free agent safety Bryan Cook.
For starters, the free agent safety market is beginning to dry up a bit. Curl was set to be one of the top UFAs to hit the open market, but now he’s locked up with a new deal.
A few other safeties have been extended in recent weeks, too, making Curl’s deal even more significant.
With the breakout starter now unavailable, more teams will turn their interest to a player like Cook, jacking up his price tag. To make matters worse, Curl got $12 million per year from the Rams, and that may include a hometown discount.
Many expect Cook to walk in NFL free agency, but the Chiefs haven’t completely given up hope of retaining him.
After this news, however, a Cook extension has likely gotten more expensive. And Kansas City doesn’t have a ton of cap space to work with.
Chiefs Could Prioritize CB Jaylen Watson Over S Bryan Cook in NFL Free Agency
GettyThe Kansas City Chiefs are expected to lose free agent safety Bryan Cook.
The McDuffie trade news really threw the KC community for a loop. But there were a couple of positives.
Not only did the Chiefs secure a haul of draft capital, similar to that of the Tyreek Hill return, but they also managed to clear some more cap space.
McDuffie was set to earn a fully guaranteed $13.632 million in 2026, and now that’s the Rams’ responsibility. After the move, Over the Cap projects that Kansas City has approximately $24.888 million in available cap space.
Obviously, there are still some moves yet to be made, but the Chiefs’ current financial situation really only allows for either Cook or cornerback Jaylen Watson to return. Meaning one, not both.
There’s also a world where KC loses both of its prized free agents in the secondary. But if they were to retain one, Watson feels more likely, considering the need at cornerback.
Latest Chiefs, Jaylen Watson News Ahead of NFL Free Agency
On March 5, Garafolo provided the latest on the Chiefs and Watson ahead of NFL free agency.
“Now, you’ve got to decide what you want to do with Jaylen Watson, who’s also a free agent at the cornerback position, and a guy that is extremely highly thought of,” the insider began on “Good Morning Football.”
After speaking about the job defensive backs coach Dave Merritt has done, Garafolo stressed the importance of not losing both starting cornerbacks in one offseason.
Reporting: “The Chiefs are going to make a run at Jaylen Watson, who has really come along as a complete cornerback.”
“Can now show that he can do a little bit of everything,” Garafolo continued, detailing the former seventh-round standout. “He’s got length, he’s got speed, he can play press [coverage], he can tackle. His instincts have come along, again, thanks to the tutelage of Merritt… and Steve Spagnuolo as the defensive coordinator as well.”
“I’m really now looking to see what they’re going to do with Watson,” the NFL Network insider concluded. “Maybe the Chiefs were saying — we’ve got to clear some space because this is one of the guys that we have to pay. Keep an eye [out] to see how that goes for Watson here in the coming days.”
So, it appears KC is not completely ‘out’ on Watson. And if you’re wondering, why trade McDuffie just to pay Watson? Don’t forget the haul of draft picks that also came with moving on from the All-Pro CB.
Chiefs Get Worrying Extension News Just Before NFL Free Agency