Chiefs Lock up a Pair

With the NFL deadline looming Monday to name a franchise player, the Kansas City Chiefs were very busy signing two of their own free agents and placing the franchise tag on another.

For those premium members, we first told you this morning that the Kansas City Chiefs were very close on securing their biggest priority this offseason, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. Per our sources, the Chiefs inked the veteran to a five-year deal worth somewhere between $26-$32 million in guarantees and incentives.

With that deal done, new General Manager John Dorsey, also signed veteran punter, Dusin Colquitt, to a five-year deal worthy nearly $19 million and $9 million in guaranteed dollars.

However, all the news wasn’t good for Chiefs fans. With those two in the fold, Kansas City was unable to get a deal done for left tackle, Brandon Albert. The Chiefs had hoped to get a deal done with him prior to the deadline as well. And by doing so, they could have structured a contract that would have given them a lower 2013 cap number.

But Albert’s camp has said all throughout the negotiation process with the Chiefs, they could get a long-term contract that would pay him $10 million annually. However, the Chiefs weren’t convinced he could get that in the open market, nor were they sold that his back could hold up to play out such a rich and potentially lucrative contract via the long term route. Instead, Albert must choose to accept the franchise number of roughly $9.5 million for his work in 2013. Will he do so? We suspect initially he won’t.

However, the Chiefs won't sit back and wait for that outcome. Despite the placement of the franchise tag on their starting left tackle, they've already indicated a willingness to sit down with Albert and get a long term deal done.

Looking ahead these moves allow the Chiefs to focus on putting together their wish list in obtaining free agents next week when the market open ups for all 32 NFL teams. And according to your spies, Kansas City appears to have already made significant progress in lining up potential visits once the doors open for the new league year.

But there is still work to be done to get their 2013 cap number in order. Kansas City can save roughly $13 million in net dollars this year should they cut defensive linemen, Tyson Jackson and Quarterback, Matt Cassel.

If the Chiefs make send those two players packing, that money could be used to land some high impact free agents as well as paying for the looming contract of Quarterback, Alex Smith, when he arrives in Kansas City.

For more on those potential free agent targets by the Kansas City Chiefs, check out the premium boards at Warpaint Illustrated.com.

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WARPAINT ILLUSTRATED MESSAGE BOARDS:
Do you think Mr. Albert will sign his free agent tender or get a long term deal?

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