Chiefs Secure Future Signings Including Former 4th-Round QB and Three Others Ahead of Playoffs while Travis Kelce has Endorsed Former Offensive Coordinator for the Position of Head Coach…

Chiefs Secure Future Signings Including Former 4th-Round QB and Three Others Ahead of Playoffs while Travis Kelce has Endorsed Former Offensive Coordinator for the Position of Head Coach…

The Kansas City Chiefs, gearing up for Wild Card Weekend against the Miami Dolphins, are not only focused on the present but also on shaping the future of their organization.

On January 10, Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald reported that the Chiefs have inked QB Ian Book, WR Jacob Copeland, RB Hassan Hall, and LB Jordan Smith to futures contracts, a move considered unusual for a playoff-bound team. NFL insider Aaron Wilson and A-to-Z Sports KC’s Charles Goldman also confirmed these 2024 deals.

A futures contract secures a player’s rights for the upcoming offseason, placing them on the following year’s 90-man roster. Importantly, these players don’t count toward the current roster or salary cap and are protected from being poached by other teams.

Headlining the signings is quarterback Ian Book, a former fourth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints. Despite Book’s college reputation for leadership and intangibles, his NFL stint has shown struggles with size and arm strength below league standards. With a limited NFL track record, the Chiefs are hopeful that their coaching staff can develop Book during the upcoming spring and summer.

The other three signees are wide receiver Jacob Copeland, running back Hassan Hall, and linebacker Jordan Smith. Copeland, an undrafted free agent from Maryland, had a standout collegiate season in 2021 with Florida. Smith, a 2021 fourth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, aims to restart his NFL career after a setback due to a knee injury. Hall, a 2023 undrafted free agent from Georgia Tech, brings versatility to the running back position after bouncing between several NFL teams.

In addition to these signings, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has endorsed former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for the head coaching position with the Washington Commanders. Kelce emphasized Bieniemy’s credentials and success with the Chiefs’ offense from 2018 to 2022, urging the Commanders not to overlook him during their coaching search. Despite Bieniemy’s impressive track record, he has faced challenges in landing a head coaching role, with some attributing the success of the Chiefs’ offense to head coach Andy Reid’s play-calling.