Chiefs free-agency tracker: Charvarius Ward receives second-round tender
The Kansas City Star is posting live updates about the Chiefs’ transactions during the 2021 NFL free-agency period. Here are Wednesday’s developments:
INTEREST IN BRINGING BACK STARTER
The Chiefs have holes on the offensive line, including the center position, but might be on the way to filling it with a starter from last season.
The Chiefs are interested in bringing back Austin Reiter, who is currently considering the offer, sources informed of the situation told The Star.
Without Reiter, the Chiefs don’t have a center with starting experience. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Reiter has appeared in 42 games with 32 starts over the past three seasons in Kansas City.
If the 29-year-old Reiter elects to sign elsewhere, the Chiefs consider moving third-year pro Nick Allegretti to center, a position he played in college at Illinois.
CHIEFS TAKE BIG STEP TOWARD BRINGING BACK WARD
The Chiefs are attempting to keep a prominent piece of their secondary.
They tendered restricted free-agent cornerback Charvarius Ward at the second-round level, a source told The Star.
The second-round tender would pay Ward $3.384 million for the 2021 season.
The Chiefs could have offered an original-round tender for less money, but a second-round tender offers more protection toward keeping Ward on the roster. If he reaches an agreement with another team, the Chiefs can match the offer and retain him. If they opt against matching the offer, they would receive a second-round pick from the team that signs him.
Ward, 24, ranked 12th in the NFL in yards allowed per coverage snap, according to Pro Football Focus. He has started 29 games over the past two seasons. The Chiefs acquired him from the Cowboys in August 2018 in what’s turned into a lopsided trade, dealing offensive lineman Parker Ehinger.
TIGHT END NEARING AGREEMENT TO RETURN
The Chiefs have offered a contract to tight end Nick Keizer, an exclusive-rights free agent, a source told The Star. Keizer, who served as the team’s No. 2 tight end last season, has not yet signed the offer, but the two sides are nearing an agreement, the source said.
Keizer had six catches for 63 yards in 2020, playing 302 offensive snaps and 223 more on special teams.
When he signs, he and Travis Kelce will be the only two tight ends of the roster. Earlier this week, the Chiefs elected not to tender an offer to Deon Yelder. Ricky Seals-Jones is a free agent, and the Chiefs are not expected to pursue another contract with him.
PRINGLE BACK IN FOLD
The Chiefs tendered a qualifying original-round offer to restricted free agent Byron Pringle, a source confirmed Wednesday morning.
The tender carries a one-year salary of at least $2,133,000 and a right of first refusal for the Chiefs if Pringle signed an offer sheet with another team.
The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Pringle joined the Chiefs in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State. He has appeared in 29 games with three starts in a Chiefs uniform, totaling 25 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns.
Pringle also contributes on special teams and led the Chiefs in kickoff returns the past season, producing 324 yards and a touchdown on 10 returns. The score came on an electrifying 102-yard return in Week 7 against the Denver Broncos.
With Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson scheduled to become unrestricted free agents, the Chiefs are likely to get Pringle more involved on offense alongside Tyreek Hill and Mecold Hardman.
“I think we’re all excited about the development of Byron Pringle,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said on March 1.
ESPN first reported the news of Pringle’s tender.
This story was originally published March 17, 2021 at 9:37 AM.
