When it comes to building a Super Bowl-caliber roster in the NFL, the blueprint is pretty clear: draft well, develop talent, and use free agency as a tool - not a crutch. The league’s most successful franchises know that the big-money signings in March are meant to be finishing touches, not foundation pieces. But every once in a while, a player hits the market who’s more than just a complementary piece - someone who can help reshape a team’s identity.
The Kansas City Chiefs have had their fair share of hits and misses in free agency over the years. Under general manager Brett Veach, the team has lifted the Lombardi Trophy three times, and while the core of those championship teams was homegrown, free agency still played a key role.
Some moves paid off in a big way. Others?
Not so much.
Let’s take a closer look at two signings that stand out in the Veach era - one that helped define a dynasty, and another that never quite lived up to the billing.
Best Free-Agent Signing: LG Joe Thuney (Class of 2021)
When Joe Thuney hit the open market in 2021, he wasn’t just another solid offensive lineman - he was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots and one of the most reliable interior linemen in the game. The timing couldn’t have been better for the Chiefs. They were fresh off a humbling loss in Super Bowl LV, where Tampa Bay’s pass rush overwhelmed a depleted Kansas City offensive line and left Patrick Mahomes running for his life.
Veach responded with urgency and precision. He released both starting tackles - Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz - and made Thuney the centerpiece of a rebuilt offensive line. The move sent a clear message: protecting Mahomes was priority number one.
Thuney didn’t just stabilize the left guard spot - he became the anchor of a new-look line that quickly became one of the league’s best. That same offseason, the Chiefs drafted center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith, forming a young, dominant interior trio that would help power Kansas City to three AFC titles over the next four seasons.
And Thuney’s value only grew with time. In his final season with the Chiefs, he stepped in at left tackle during the playoffs - a critical move that helped keep Mahomes upright during another deep postseason run. Even though the strategy hit a wall against the Eagles, Thuney’s versatility and leadership were undeniable.
It’s rare for a free-agent signing to have this kind of sustained, franchise-shaping impact. But Thuney did exactly that. He wasn’t just a great addition - he was a tone-setter for a championship culture.
Worst Free-Agent Signing: LB Anthony Hitchens (Class of 2018)
Not every splash in free agency turns into a cannonball. In 2018, with excitement building around Patrick Mahomes taking over as the starting quarterback, the Chiefs were aggressive in retooling the roster. Veach added wide receiver Sammy Watkins and running back Damien Williams on offense, but he also turned his attention to the defense - specifically, the linebacker position.
With longtime leader Derrick Johnson on his way out, the Chiefs needed a new presence in the middle of the defense. Veach turned to Anthony Hitchens, signing the former Dallas Cowboy to a five-year deal with the hope that he’d become the next anchor of Kansas City’s linebacking corps.
Hitchens brought toughness and experience, and he was durable - starting every game he was available for over four seasons. He even played a role on the 2019 Super Bowl-winning team. But despite his availability and leadership, the production never quite matched the paycheck.
It became increasingly clear that Hitchens lacked the speed and playmaking instincts to be the kind of difference-maker the Chiefs needed at linebacker. That reality came into sharper focus in 2021, when the team drafted Nick Bolton. Almost immediately, Bolton flashed the kind of impact Hitchens never consistently delivered - flying to the ball, making stops in space, and showing a knack for being around the action.
By the end of that season, the writing was on the wall. Hitchens was released, and he never played another down in the NFL.
Final Takeaway
Free agency is always a gamble. You’re paying for past performance, hoping it translates into future success.
For the Chiefs, the Joe Thuney signing was a masterstroke - a calculated, high-reward move that helped fortify a dynasty. On the flip side, the Anthony Hitchens deal serves as a reminder that not every big-name addition pans out, even with the right intentions.
In the end, Kansas City’s ability to hit far more often than they miss - especially when it matters most - is a big reason why they’ve become the NFL’s modern gold standard.