Chiefs have meetings, mutual interest with Stefen Wisniewski and Mike Pennel
By John Buhler
The Kansas City Chiefs have meetings scheduled and mutual interest to bring back guard Stefen Wisniewski and defensive tackle Mike Pennel in free agency.
The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to bring back two unsung heroes from the Super Bowl LIV title team in free agency.
Usually, mid-tier free agents are poached from franchises which hoist the Lombardi Trophy. However, two such players from the Chiefs having meetings scheduled with the franchise ahead of free agency: guard Stefen Wisniewski and defensive tackle Mike Pennel. They will have solid value on the free-agent market, but there is mutual interest for both to return to Kansas City in 2020.
#Chiefs have interest in bringing back guard Stefen Wisniewski, per source. Meeting set up late this week to discuss potential return.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) February 26, 2020
If he hits the market, league conversations indicate #Jets would be a potential suitor. Wiz played in PHI when Joe Douglas was there.
The Chiefs are meeting with Mike Pennel’s representation this week, per source.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) February 26, 2020
I’m told there’s interest on both sides for a reunion. Should Pennel hit the market, he’d be one of the top run defenders available.
FanSided‘s Matt Verderame reports if Wisniewski doesn’t return to the Chiefs, a team to consider is the New York Jets. Gang Green is now run by Joe Douglas, who is very familiar with Wisniewski from their time together in the Philadelphia Eagles organization.
Should Pennel hit the open market, he will be one of the best interior run defenders readily available this spring.
Wisniewski is now a two-time Super Bowl champion with 134 career games under his belt. He is best known for his three years with the Eagles, as well as starting his NFL career with the same Oakland Raiders franchise his uncle Steve Wisniewski played for. At 31 years old in 2020, Wisniewski should have a few more quality years before retires.
Pennel is still on the right side of 30. He’ll be 29 years old next season and arguably hitting his prime. The Kansas City native really came alive in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense in Kansas City, so maybe he is a long-term fit here with the Chiefs?
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Overall, it’s smart the Chiefs are getting out ahead of this. Their 2019 season only ended a few weeks ago. Though it is the Super Bowl champ, Kansas City is behind the rest of the NFL in terms of offseason preparation.
While Wisniewski and Pennel could be one-and-done in Kansas City, the Chiefs having meetings with them shows a willingness to make something work.