The successful NFL franchises understand that free agency should not be the primary avenue to building a championship team. The signings an organization makes in the spring \u2014 before the draft in late April \u2014 should be the cherries on top of a roster built on drafted, developed players.<\/p>\n
There are times when a potential cornerstone player becomes available to sign. When it works out \u2014 like the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> signing eventual All-Pro right tackle Mitchell Schwartz in the 2016 offseason \u2014 it looks like a no-brainer, but there are plenty of big contracts that don\u2019t turn out well. Chiefs Kingdom is not far removed from trading for and signing quarterback Matt Cassel as a franchise player, inking a six-year contract entering the 2009 season.<\/p>\n In the era of general manager Brett Veach, Kansas City has won three Super Bowls with plenty of aid from free-agent signings. There are strong candidates for the best and worst in this time, but one player stands above the rest in terms of impacting the team\u2019s unprecedented success.<\/p>\n Best: LG Joe Thuney \u2014 Class of 2021<\/p>\n After two Super Bowl titles as a starting guard for the New England Patriots<\/a>, Thuney became one of the most sought-after free agents entering the 2021 season. That timed up with the Chiefs coming off a dismal performance in Super Bowl LV against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a>. Veach did not mess around with fixing the offensive line to ensure the protection of quarterback Patrick Mahomes.<\/p>\n After releasing starting left tackle Eric Fisher and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, Kansas City prioritized Thuney in free agency to lead the new era of the Chiefs\u2019 offensive line. Later that offseason, the team drafted center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith, forming a trio that would become the foundation for Kansas City as it won AFC titles in three of the next four seasons.<\/p>\n In his final season with the Chiefs, Thuney shored up left tackle during a postseason run, starting on the blind side of Mahomes on the way to a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. The strategy may have come apart against the Philadelphia Eagles<\/a>, but Thuney still proved to be one of the biggest reasons for unprecedented dominance in Kansas City\u2019s recent history.<\/p>\n Worst: LB Anthony Hitchens \u2014 Class of 2018<\/p>\n With the excitement building around Mahomes taking over as the starting quarterback for the 2018 season, Veach was aggressive in free agency. He signed wide receiver Sammy Watkins to a multi-year contract and made an underrated addition with running back Damien Williams.<\/p>\n