In addition to the Kansas City Chiefs retaining the services of three key members of their starting defense in veteran linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali and defensive lineman Jaye Howard this free agency, they signed a couple of key players to the offensive side of the ball as well.
Former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Mitch Schwartz, who hasn't missed a snap in his four-year career since being drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of the University of California, was brought in to solidify the right side of the offensive line.
Last year, Schwartz graded out as one of the best right tackles in the NFL.
On the outside, the Chiefs signed former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Rod Streater, who might have only played in four games over the past two years but had a breakout season back in 2013 with 60 receptions for 888 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Streater entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Temple back in 2012.
"The value of college scouting is you get a chance to go back and read all the notes in terms of the background of the particular players," Chiefs general manager John Dorsey explained. "It just so happened to be [Streater] and [Schwartz] had very favorable reports. I had direct knowledge with both of these guys coming out because I had evaluated both and I liked both leading up in to the draft.
"They represent everything that we look for in players. They love the game. They're going to be good guys in the locker room. They're going to be great in the community. These are the basic tenants we try to look for as we move and build this roster."
In addition, Dorsey mentioned being especially impressed with Schwartz, who as a member of the Browns last season had the task of facing the AFC West, and in particular, a couple of dynamic pass rushers in Oakland's Khalil Mack and Denver's Von Miller.
"I think he's consistent," Dorsey said of Schwartz. "That's first and foremost. I think he's very square in his past sets. He's a big man and he's a little bit better of an athlete than you realize. He's got balance and body control. It just so happened that [the Browns] played the AFC West last year, and there were two guys that we'll see twice a year, and he did a phenomenal job against both of these guys.
"I have nothing but the highest respect for him, and I think that's really going to help us moving along. I think it will be good for Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to have somebody like that as well because he's been in the fire. I think he'll be really good for the entire room."
For more from Dorsey on how he feels the Chiefs have done in free agency, check out the exclusive one-on-one interview with him above.
