Who will land Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith in 2016 NFL free agency?
Teams looking to upgrade their secondary will have plenty of options to choose from this offseason, as cornerback is one of the most loaded positions of the 2016 NFL free agency period. With Josh Norman almost certainly staying with the Carolina Panthers, Sean Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs has an argument as the top free agent at the position.
Vitals
Age: 28
Notable stat: 10 career interceptions
All-Pro teams: 0
Pro Bowls: 0
Contract comparison
The price of cornerbacks in free agency has skyrocketed in recent years, so Smith is going to get paid this offseason. Byron Maxwell signed a six-year, $63 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles last offseason, and Smith figures to eclipse that annual average value.
While Smith doesn’t rack up flashy interception numbers, he uses his strength to overwhelm receivers. At 6-3, 220 pounds, Smith has the type of size at the position that NFL teams have gravitated towards in recent years, and someone with his physical skills won’t be easy to find in the draft or free agency.
Smith isn’t going to get the $14 million AAV of a Darrelle Revis or Richard Sherman, but he should be in the tier right below that. At 28 years old, Smith might be looking at a shorter contract than someone like Maxwell.
Estimate: 4 years/$46 million/$20 million guaranteed
Will he stay?
The Chiefs will be interested in keeping a player of Smith’s caliber, and have a good shot at doing so. Smith fits Kansas City’s defensive system well, forms an excellent duo with Marcus Peters, and the team doesn’t have any apparent replacement for him on the roster.
Kansas City is projected to have a solid $32 million in cap space, so it can work a new contract for Smith in if they so choose while also re-signing safety Eric Berry. Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali are among the Chiefs’ other key free agents, but Smith might take priority over those older players.
Smith is also a candidate for the franchise tag, which should pay him a little more than $13 million in 2016.
If he leaves…
Kansas City is the most likely destination for Smith in 2016, but there’s a chance some other team is willing to outspend the Chiefs for him. If Smith hits the open market, a number of teams with a need at cornerback.
Both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders going to spend some money in free agency, and both have a need at cornerback. The Pittsburgh Steelers would be a great fit for Smith, as a lockdown corner appears to be the biggest need on a strong roster.