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Kansas City Chiefs: 5 free agents to sign in order to win in 2020

By Kelly Thompson

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 27: Larry Warford #67 of the New Orleans Saints in action during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 27, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 27: Larry Warford #67 of the New Orleans Saints in action during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 27, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 27: Larry Warford #67 of the New Orleans Saints in action during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 27, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 27: Larry Warford #67 of the New Orleans Saints in action during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 27, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Larry Warford, Guard

As soon as the NFL Draft concluded, people began speculating on the future of New Orleans Saints guard Larry Warford. The team had invested a great deal on the offensive line in the last 14 months by: signing Nick Easton, drafting Erik McCoy (2019), signing Andrus Peat (to a massive extension) and drafting Cesar Ruiz in the first round of the 2020 draft.

The drafting of Ruiz, in particular, made it clear the team would be making a choice between Warford and Easton.

They could saved over $7 million against the cap in 2020 by cutting Warford, which likely led to the decision to cut him. Warford marks a rare market oddity at this point in the NFL offseason: he is an excellent player, in the prime of his career, who has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons.

The Chiefs would be wise to make the investment in Warford, as doing so would provide an instant upgrade over presumptive starter Martinas Rankin, who the team may prefer in a reserve or swing guard role; and it would allow rookie Lucas Niang to remain at tackle, where he played in college and where head coach Andy Reid has said he will likely ultimately wind up. Despite those fact, Reid also said that they expect Niang to play guard in 2020 – but signing Warford would make that unnecessary.

Warford will not come cheap, reportedly seeking $7 million per year. But, that is less than the money the Chiefs would free up by signing Chris Jones to an extension, and Pro Bowl players are rarely available in May.

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