3 key free agents Kansas City Chiefs can still sign after NFL Draft

Signing defensive end Olivier Vernon makes an AFC contending team worse

At this point, we are not looking at any potential home-run free-agent acquisitions. However, if there is one signing the Chiefs could make to improve their roster while simultaneously making one of their main competitors worse in the AFC, it would have to be adding former Cleveland Browns defensive end Olivier Vernon. He is coming off a nine-sack campaign with the Browns.

Because Cleveland signed former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney this offseason to really help them out in run defense, that likely means Vernon is not returning to the Browns for a third season. While he has only had one 10-plus sack season in his nine-year NFL career out of Miami, Vernon is usually good for about seven or so annually. He can help the Chiefs close out ballgames.

As with the Chiefs drafting Powell out of Clemson in the fifth round to amplify their receiving corps, Kansas City did use a day-three pick on pass rusher Joshua Kaindoh out of Florida State. However, you can never have too many good defensive linemen at your disposal, especially if you plan on playing games where you regularly have the lead as the Chiefs are certainly expecting.

Ultimately, Vernon may be a tad too pricey to add in free agency for the Chiefs. What does help him potentially going to the Chiefs is he might take a discount to go win a championship. The other component is he is not the top free agent pass rusher still on the market, as long-time Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Melvin Gordon remains unsigned. Vernon could be a Chief.

What moves do you think the Chiefs still need to make to get back to the Super Bowl in 2021?