4 free agents the Chiefs should happily let leave

1. JuJu Smith-Schuster

Andy Reid and his coaching staff deserve all the plaudits they’ve received for making their offense more efficient even after the departure of Tyreek Hill. Smith-Schuster’s 78 catches for 933 yards played a big part in the team’s efficient passing attack.

It will be tempting to bring Smith-Schuster back for another tour of duty, but he won’t be re-signing in Kansas City for a discount. Spotrac projects his market value to be somewhere in the neighborhood of a four-year deal for $60 million on the open market. That should be well outside the Chiefs’ price range.

Instead, Kansas City needs to focus on rebuilding its receiver corps through the draft. The midseason trade for Kadarius Toney gave the Chiefs a nice young player to work with, but they need a new option on the outside. Mahomes’ brilliance should make it easier for a rookie to get up to speed early in his career.

The other option would be looking for veteran wideouts chasing Super Bowl rings on the free-agent market. Smith-Schuster won’t be that type of free-agent target since he’s just 26 years old.

Letting Smith-Schuster walk in free agency won’t be a popular decision in Kansas City, but it’s the right move for the Chiefs. There’s no room for a sentimental overpay at wide receiver for a team looking to win another Super Bowl title.