Chiefs signing Alshon Jeffery would be a win-win situation

When Alshon Jeffery is officially available, the Kansas City Chiefs feel like an ideal landing spot.

Due their cap trouble, it was inevitable. But on Monday Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the Philadelphia Eagles will release wide receive Alshon Jeffery at the start of the new league year.

Jeffery spent four seasons with the Eagles, with the first two far more healthier and productive than the last two. He appeared in just seven games in 2020, with six catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. According to Over The Cap, with a post-June 1 cut the Eagles will clear $2 million in cap space with nearly $5.6 million in dead money. So cutting Jeffery is more about clearing a roster spot and getting younger than it is about cap space.

In nine NFL seasons, Jeffery has played all 16 games only three times (once in the last six years). At 31 years old now, it’s not as if he’s going to suddenly become a picture of durability. His next team will cognizant of that, but his resume says there will be suitors.

The Chiefs and Alshon Jeffery would be perfect marriage

The Kansas City Chiefs have the NFL’s best tight end in Travis Kelce, and one of the most explosive wide receivers around  in Tyreek Hill. But when defenses are capable of taking one or both guys away, one of the league’s best offenses lacks counter-punches. After Kelce (145 targets) and Hill (135 targets), the next most-targeted player on the team was Mecole Hardman (62 targets), and no one else had more than 45 receptions.

Of the 40 touchdown passes the Chiefs had last season, 26 went to Hill (15) and Kelce (11). Add Hardman’s four and it’s 30 of 40 to three guys. Another weapon, particularly someone with size to create mismatches in the red zone, looks like an ideal fit.

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Of Jeffery’s 46 career regular season touchdowns, 34 have been red zone scores. Edge out to 25 yards or closer, and it’s 38 of 46.

The Chiefs have some work to do to get within the salary cap, but it’s not as if they’ll be big spenders in free agency anyway. Jeffery won’t be breaking the bank, or getting more than a one-year deal. The fit between the two sides seems clear.