Kansas City’s five-for-five streak came to an end early this morning when the Chiefs didn’t announce any new free agent signings on Saturday. The weekdays representative of March 8th-12th had produced a new Chief at a rate of one per day.
Daylight Savings Time is here this Sunday morning, taking an hour away from our prodding of who could be the next player to call Kansas City home. If we’re looking to find candidates that may join the Chiefs, it might save us time to look at who’s been signed thus far.
Kansas City’s free agency signees to date reveal a bit about what the Chiefs front office is looking for in players available for hire.
1) Retaining key players is critical
a. All three phases of the game have been addressed with the re-signing of WR 
2) Veteran players supplement the core of the team, which is ultimately built through the draft
a. Winning resume is a plus (2010 FA signees have 43 games of playoff experience between them)
3) Use the following as a checklist
a. Position of need?
b. Team-first player?
c. Is there a WANT to play in Kansas City?
For the most part, Kansas City’s free agent signees have followed the above blue print in some way, shape or form. Before we begin a new week of free agency, here’s a quick-hitter of the players that the Chiefs have added (or retained through free agency) over the last week-and-a-half.
LB Mike Vrabel
· Has played in 190 career regular season games (124 starts)
· Has played in 19 career playoff games
· Retained to lead a position group filled with young, ascending players
RB
· Kansas City’s special teams improved from 29th in 2008 to 12th in 2009 in the comprehensive NFL special teams rankings compiled by Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News
· Copper ranked second on the team with 16 special teams tackles in 2009 and played a role in essentially every specialty unit
WR Chris Chambers
· Started the final nine games for the Chiefs last season, recording 36 receptions for 608 yards (16.9 avg.) with four TDs with the Chiefs in 2009
· Has quickly developed a relationship with QB
· Made two playoff appearances with San Diego
RB
· Has produced five consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons
· Ranked third in the NFL with a career-high 1,402 rushing yards with the N.Y. Jets in 2009
· Caught a career-high 56 passes with Chicago in 2004
· Has been to the playoffs with both Chicago and the N.Y. Jets
DT
· Has played in 63 career games (27 starts)
· Has 196 tackles (92 solo), 2.0 sacks (-20.0 yards), three passes defensed and two forced fumbles
· Been to the playoffs twice with Cincinnati
· Has been on two teams that have gone to the Super Bowl (SEA. ARZ)
· Set career highs with 34 catches for 448 yards and four TDs in 2008
· Four-time conference track athlete of the year in college
· Ironman - has started 143 consecutive games at center and has taken 9,078 consecutive snaps at that position
· Has played in 195 games (168 starts)
· Owns two games of playoff experience
· Pro Bowler in 2008
