As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for an offseason full of important decisions, here's a look at all of the players scheduled to become free agents at the end of the 2016 league year (March 9).

It's important to note that there are multiple types of free agents, and the charts below are broken down by unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents.

There's a brief explanation on each of the designations and what they mean in simple terms, and also by how they're officially defined in the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement.  

UFA - What it means in a simple way: If these players don't have a new contract signed by the time the new league year begins on March 9 at 3:00 p.m. CT, they are free to sign with another NFL team.

Here's part of what the CBA has listed as the official definition of an unrestricted free agent (UFA):

"Any player with four or more Accrued Seasons shall, at the expiration of his Player Contract, become an Unrestricted Free Agent. Such player shall be completely free to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with any Club, and any Club shall be completely free to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with such player, without penalty or restriction, including, but not limited to, Draft Choice Compensation between Clubs or First Refusal Rights of any kind…"

*ERFA - What it means in a simple way: *If these players get a contract offer from the Chiefs by March 9 at 3:00 p.m. CT, they will stay with the Chiefs or sit out the year.

Here's what the CBA has to say about the definition of an exclusive rights free agent (ERFA):

"Any Veteran with less than three Accrued Seasons (Accrued season = active on six or more regular season games)whose contract has expired may negotiate or sign a Player Contract only with his Prior Club, if before the first day of the League Year after the expiration of his contract, his Prior Club tenders the player a one year Player Contract with a Paragraph 5 Salary of at least the Minimum Active/Inactive List Salary applicable to that player. A player receiving such a Tender shall be known as an "Exclusive Rights Player.

"If the Prior Club has not by that date made the Required Tender or later withdraws such Tender, the player shall be completely free to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with any Club, and any Club shall be completely free to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with such player, without any penalty or restriction, including, but not limited to, Draft Choice Compensation between Clubs or First Refusal Rights of any kind, or any signing period."

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For a reference of important offseason dates, including franchise tag deadlines, the NFL Scouting Combine and all offseason workouts, check out ourImportant Offseason Dates Page.