Chris Jones Skipping Chiefs' Workouts
The Chiefs entered the offseason with two major extensions on tap, but considering Tyreek Hill‘s situation, that number has almost certainly dwindled to one. And Chris Jones looks to be staying away from the team for the time being. Jones did not show for the Chiefs’ voluntary workouts this week, Terez Paylor of Yahoo.com reports. While this may not be contract-related, the now-extension-eligible interior defender may be sending an early message to his team. The Chiefs just gave trade acquisition Frank Clark a massive extension, and despite Clark’s presence as the Seahawks’ top pass rusher last season, Jones outperformed him with 15.5 sacks — far and away the most in Chiefs single-season history for an inside defender. Considering Fletcher Cox received $17.1MM per year after a 9.5-sack season, and on a $155MM cap in 2016, Jones’ representation will surely argue the Pro Bowl snub deserves to be the highest-paid non-Aaron Donald interior lineman in the game.
Chiefs Sign Second-Round WR Mecole Hardman
After signing 17 undrafted free agents earlier today, the Chiefs have also inked the majority of their draft class to contracts. The team announced that they have signed four of their six draft 
picks:
- 2-56: Mecole Hardman, WR (Georgia)
- 6-201: Rashad Fenton, DB (South Carolina)
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6-214: Darwin Thompson, RB (Utah State)
- 7-216: Nick Allegretti, G (Illinois)
The Chiefs didn’t have a first-rounder, so Hardman was ultimately their first selection. The Georgia product was productive during his junior season, hauling in 35 receptions for 543 yards and second touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams, where he returned 30 combined kicks and punts. Considering the uncertainty of Tyreek Hill, Hardman has an opportunity to emerge as one of Patrick Mahomes‘ preferred targets. Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson are currently atop the Chiefs’ depth chart at receiver.
Thompson is another intriguing prospect who could have an opportunity to contribute right away. The Chiefs are currently rostering a three running backs in Damien Williams, Carlos Hyde and Darrel Williams, meaning the rookie should have a chance to make the roster as a third back.
Following these signings, the Chiefs are left with a pair of unsigned draft picks: second-round safety Juan Thornhill (Virginia) and third-round defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (Western Illinois).
Chiefs Sign 17 UDFAs
The Chiefs have announced the signing of 17 undrafted free agents. The entire list is below:
- Dino Boyd, OT (Cincinnati)
- Jalin Burrell, DB (New Mexico)
- Jamal Custis, WR (Syracuse)
- Felton Davis, WR (Michigan State)
- Mark Fields, DB (Clemson)
- Jack Fox, P (Rice)
- Darius Harris, LB (Middle Tennessee)
- Gary Johnson, LB (Texas)
- Jamire Jordan, WR (Fresno State)
- Andre Lindsey, WR (Sacramento State)
- T.J. Linta, QB (Wagner)
- John Lovett, QB (Princeton)
- Dakari Monroe, DB (San Jose State)
- Kyle Shurmur, QB (Vanderbilt)
- Cody Thompson, WR (Toledo)
- Tim Ward, DE (Old Dominion)
- James Williams, RB (Washington State)
With uncertainty surrounding Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs have been hunting for wide receiver help. They apparently focused in on Custis, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the team gave him more than $100K in guaranteed money. This is the highest guarantee for an undrafted receiver in at least the past two years. The Syracuse product had a breakout campaign during his senior season, hauling in 51 receptions for 906 yards and six touchdowns. The Chiefs ended up adding five undrafted receivers in total, and that’s in addition to second-round wideout Mecole Hardman.
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that the team also gave pricey base guarantees to Thompson ($50K), Schumer ($67K), Harris ($50K), and Fox ($45K).
The Fox move is particularly interesting, as Dustin Colquitt has been a mainstay of the Chiefs punting unit since 2005. The 36-year-old had a career-low 45 punts in 2018, although he did manage to place 21 of those inside the 20. With Colquitt eyeing his 15th NFL season, the organization may simply be looking to provide the veteran with some competition.
It’s also notable that the Chiefs added three undrafted quarterbacks. The coaching staff will presumably let the rookies battle during the early parts of camp, with perhaps one of them joining EJ Manuel, Chad Henne, and Chase Litton for the backup quarterback competition.
Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill Denies Abuse Allegations
The latest round of allegations against Chiefs star Tyreek Hill may put his football future in jeopardy. However, in a four-page letter sent to the NFL by his lawyer, the wide receiver strongly refuted the allegations against him. 
“[Hill] categorically denies he has ever ‘punched’ his son in the chest or anywhere on his body, or otherwise touched him in the chest in a mean-spirited manner or as a form of discipline,” the attorney wrote (via ESPN.com).
Through his lawyer, Hill denied having any role in his son’s fractured arm. The attorney also noted that the injury to Hill’s three-year-old boy was ruled to be an accident when he was examined at the hospital. Hill’s letter to the league also refuted Crystal Espinal’s recorded allegation that their son is “terrified” of him.
Recently, local investigators closed their investigation into Hill, citing a lack of concrete evidence. However, damning audio of a conversation between Hill and his child’s mother may have breathed new life into the case. Some reports indicate that the investigation has been re-opened. Meanwhile, Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter) hears that might not be true – at least, not yet.
For now, Hill remains barred from all Chiefs team activities.
Derrick Johnson Retires From NFL
Linebacker Derrick Johnson is retiring from football, according to 610 Sports Radio. But, before he officially hangs ’em up, he’ll sign a one-day contract to go out as as member of the Chiefs. 
Johnson, 36, was a key cog in the Chiefs’ defense from 2005 through 2017. He leaves the game as the Chiefs’ all-time leading tackler, with 1,262 career stops to his credit. Since entering the league as a first round pick, Johnson suited up in 182 games for Kansas City with 169 starts. In 2018, the Chiefs made the difficult decision to allow Johnson to leave in free agency.
“Few players in recent history have meant more to the Chiefs franchise and the Kansas City community than Derrick Johnson,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement last year. “His tireless work ethic and passion for the game made him one of the most productive defensive players to ever wear a Chiefs uniform and one of the most respected players both in our locker room and around the league. Over the last 13 seasons, Derrick represented himself and the Chiefs organization with integrity and class, and he will always be a part of our Chiefs family.”
After that, Johnson hooked on with the Raiders, but his second act didn’t go as planned. Johnson appeared in six games (one start) for the silver and black, amassing just 17 tackles. In October, the Raiders granted his request for release, but he did not sign with another club in the 2018 season.
Johnson’s one-day deal comes on the heels of running back Jamaal Charles‘ own ceremonial contract to retire as a member of the Chiefs.
This Date In Transactions History: Chiefs Draft Tyreek Hill
On this date in 2016, the Chiefs altered the course of their franchise with a controversial fifth-round pick. In that draft, many teams ruled out Tyreek Hill, a shockingly fast wide receiver, due to a horrendous incident in which he was said to have beaten and choked his pregnant girlfriend. 
The Chiefs felt that Hill had shown remorse and was deserving of a second chance. And, early on in his career, Hill made the most of the opportunity.
As a rookie, he electrified the football world with his head-turning kick returns, two of which he took all the way to the house. Then, in 2017, he had his true breakout season when the Chiefs utilized him more as a receiver. Those who took a chance on Hill in fantasy football were handsomely rewarded as he caught 75 passes for 1,183 yards and seven touchdowns.
Then, last year, Hill firmly established himself as one of the most impressive playmakers in the game. Hill nearly reached 1,500 yards receiving, averaged 17.0 yards per grab, and gave opposing defensive coordinators nightmares. Between Hill, tight end Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, and star rusher Kareem Hunt, the Chiefs’ offensive stars were simply impossible to guard for most clubs.
However, things have changed dramatically over the last five months. In late November, TMZ released footage of Hunt striking a woman in the corridor of a hotel and kicking her while she was on the ground. The Chiefs responded quickly and released Hunt soon after.
Then, in the offseason, authorities opened an investigation into Hill’s alleged abuse of his three-year-old son. Last week, the DA declined to press charges, citing a lack of hard evidence. However, newly leaked audio of a conversation between Hill and his child’s mother led to the investigation being re-opened. The Chiefs have banned Hill from team activities indefinitely and it seems likely that he’ll be released outright in the weeks to come.
Jamaal Charles Retires From NFL
Jamaal Charles is calling it a career. The running back will sign a one-day contract in order to officially leave the game as a member of the Chiefs, according to 610 Sports Radio (Twitter link). 
Way back in October, Charles indicated that he was likely done with football. But, days later, he auditioned for the Ravens, leaving some question as to whether he would follow through on retirement. Months later, Charles has arrived at a decision – he’s done for good.
In his prime, Charles was one of the NFL’s most electrifying running backs. When he was young, healthy, and a member of the Chiefs, he had some brilliant seasons, including a 2010 campaign in which he ran for 1,467 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Unfortunately, time is not kind to running backs, and he has not topped 1,000 yards since the 2014 season due to aging and injuries.
The Chiefs’ all-time rushing leader attempted to reignite his career with the Broncos in 2017 and again with the Jaguars in 2018. He wasn’t the same player, but it’s worth noting that he managed a 4.3 yards per carry average with Denver in a limited sample size of 69 attempts.
Charles will leave the game at the age of 32, presumably with enough money to do whatever he wants. We here at PFR wish Charles the best in retirement.
Latest On Mecole Hardman's Role
During the hours leading up to the draft’s second night, the Jets were calling teams — the Seahawks, Colts and others — about trading way up into the second round. That did not end up happening. The Jets, who traded their Round 2 pick to the Colts last year for the right to move up to draft Sam Darnold, made the calls because of a desire to add one of the high-end cornerbacks available to start Day 2, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports. Gang Green sought to jump into the top five of the second round, per Mehta, but they could not come to terms on a deal. Such a jump — from No. 68 into the 30s — would have required a significant draft capital subtraction. The Jets also had a deal with the Eagles to make a less costly move — up to No. 57 — to draft Mecole Hardman, but the Chiefs beat them to it. Corners Byron Murphy, Rock Ya-Sin, Sean Bunting and Trayvon Mullen all went off the board in the first eight picks Friday.
- While the Chiefs‘ Hardman pick looks like a Tyreek Hill emergency replacement, and was chosen three rounds ahead of when the polarizing star was taken three years ago, the team views the Georgia speedster as a cross between Hill and gadget-type weapon De’Anthony Thomas — both in terms of role and talent, Breer writes.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/29/19
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: C Kyle Friend
Denver Broncos
- Signed: K Taylor Bertolet (AAF)
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: OL Nico Siragusa, DB Jason Thompson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: C Tejan Koroma
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: OL Jeremiah Kolone
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: WR Steven Dunbar, DB Godwin Igwebuike, CB Tarvarus McFadden, LB James Onwualu, WR Jordan Smallwood, P Justin Vogel, S Terrell Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- K Phillip Anderson, LB Riley Bullough, DE Hunter Dimick, P Hayden Hunt, DE Nick Thurman
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: NT Darius Kilgo
Rams Deal No. 56 Pick To Chiefs
The Chiefs will make their first pick of the 2019 draft, moving up five spots via the Rams. Los Angeles will collect a fifth-round pick (No. 167) to move back five spots at the end of Round 2.
Kansas City’s pick at No. 56 appears to indicate, as should be expected, Tyreek Hill will soon be out of the picture. The Chiefs chose Georgia wideout/return man Mecole Hardman, who zoomed to a 4.33-second 40-yard dash time this offseason.
It has not been a good week for Kansas City, but the team still does feature one of the league’s best rosters. It’s interesting the Chiefs did not use this pick on their defense, which still has holes, but Hill’s latest ugly off-field chapter created a major need at receiver.
Hardman caught 35 passes for 543 yards last season. He will likely be tabbed to develop and possibly step in for one of the NFL’s best players, one who has encountered more legal trouble and is likely soon to be a former Chief.
If/once Hill is waived, it will mark a rather astounding reboot for Kansas City’s offense. Both Hill and Kareem Hunt were integral parts of the Chiefs’ loaded 2018 skill-position corps. Kansas City brought in Carlos Hyde to help stabilize the post-Hunt backfield; Hardman appears to be a key component of the post-Hill equation at wide receiver.