The Kansas City Chiefs are attempting to re-sign Tamba Hali, however they have several other more important tasks to handle during the 2016 free agency period. Hali has been a productive pass rusher/outside linebacker for the majority of his 11-season career. During that time, much like Derrick Johnson he has been a Chiefs lifer. During a time in football where players switch teams like bad franchises switch head coaches, it is shocking to see one let alone two players who can say they have spent their entire careers with one team.
Hali is 32 and has barely missed a game. In Hali's career he has only missed five out of 176 games, which is absolutely unimaginable. He has amassed 553 combined tackles, 86 sacks, a safety, 13 pass defenses, 2 interceptions, and 32 forced fumbles.
He has been a solid component of the Chiefs' defense for a decade, and now it appears the Chiefs may lose one of their most reliable components. Hali at 32 will likely not command $4 million-plus a year anymore, but he is still a reliable player whose decline could come much later on. The main problem with the Chiefs resigning Hali is the sheer amount of free agents the Chiefs have. The Chiefs will attempt to re-sign safeties Eric Berry and Husain Abdullah, cornerback Sean Smith and Marcus Cooper, linebackers Derrick Johnson and Hali, along with running back Charcandrick West. Those are a lot of prominent free agents that are set to hit the market. The Chiefs will have a bit north of $32 million in cap space, so it is possible that some of these players do return.
Smith is reportedly looking for $10 to $12 million per season, making him somewhat out of the Chiefs' price range. Berry is the biggest free agent of the group and will likely require a mega deal to remain a Kansas City Chief. The Chiefs could also re-sign most if not all of these players if they did not have to give such a huge deal to Berry, however after earning his NFL Comeback Player of the Year award he is seemingly worth the salary cap space.
