NFL offseason wish list: Kansas City Chiefs

Welcome to our fantasy football wish lists where we’re going through each NFL team and listing three things we’d love to see them do this offseason for fantasy reasons (but also real football reasons).

Trade Sammy Watkins and a Mid-round pick for Antonio Brown

Given everything that’s happened in recent months—Le’Veon Bell’s holdout, infighting between the players and front office alike, GM Kevin Colbert revealing himself to be an arrogant loudmouth—the Steelers would likely love to move on from Antonio Brown if possible. Kansas City might be the perfect trading partner. The oft-injured yet extremely talented Sammy Watkins could be the answer to their woes. First off, the two receivers have startlingly similar contracts, negating a need to get tricky with either team’s salary cap. Sammy Watkins’ and Antonio Brown’s contract, respectively:

Watkins’ cap hit

Browns’ cap hit

AB is signed for one more year than Watkins is, but that works out well. The former will be locked up through his age-33 season, at which point his burst and change-of-direction abilities will be waning. Pairing Brown with Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce would make this passing game even more unstoppable than it already is. Additionally, on the Pittsburgh side of things, Watkins is a perfect fit for a Ben Roethlisberger offense that already has an All-World slot receiver in Juju Smith-Schuster. Watkins is handle X-receiver duties — that’s his natural position. He’s a talented, young player (still just 25) who dominates the downfield game. He’s a perfect fit. Throw in a 4th round pick and you’re set.

Extend Dee Ford’s contract and release Justin Houston

Dee Ford earned Pro Bowl honors this year, on the heels of his 13-sack season. The stellar pass rusher is now a free agent and the Chiefs need to do all that they can to retain him. At 27 years old, Ford is in his athletic, and productive, prime. Locking him up for the next 4 years is imperative to maintaining KC’s ability to get after opposing passers.

Unfortunately, it’s time for the team to move on from stalwart edge rusher Justin Houston. Houston’s been effective in a rotational capacity but his 2016 ACL tear has sapped his athleticism and regularly prevents him from being a full participant in practice. His technical ability has decreased as a result. Although Houston carries $7.1 million in dead money, the $14 million they would save by cutting him is too much to pass up. Matt Verderame of Fansided has been hearing chatter from inside the Chiefs’ building that KC is ready to make the move. With just $26 million in cap space and $18 million or more likely to be allocated towards Ford’s new deal, it needs to happen. On top of all that, KC also needs to...

Extend the contract of center Mitch Morse

Morse had a fantastic 2019 campaign but is currently slated to hit free agency this offseason. Kansas City already has a dynamic tackle tandem in Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. Locking up their stud center for 2019 and beyond will pay huge dividends in Patrick Mahomes’ development. With Morse under contract for 4 more years, KC can get to working on other areas of need and continue on their war path in the AFC.