Part III of this series is basically a "Where do the Chiefs go from here?" I've identified the starters, the potential backups & those who should be looking for alternative employment outside football. I know that sounds callous, but if you can't make the Chiefs, you're probably not an NFL quality player.

There are five ways the Chiefs can acquire players, trade, waivers, free agency, April's draft & undrafted college players. Let's rule out waivers right here & now, that how we acquired this motley crew of castoffs. Yes, Chris Chambers was an asset who could make the team again next year & yes, Ryan O'Callaghan should do likewise. Anyone else on this roster you can think of that was claimed off waivers & could make an impact next season? Didn't think so.

Trades are only viable if you have something someone else wants to trade for & vice versa. Glenn Dorsey is about all I'd be willing to part with that could both bring us cap relief & a draft pick or a player more suited to our system. I know he improved this season over last, but keeping him another year to languish in a system not suited for his talents only reduces his trade value even further. A lot of the criticism leveled at Dorsey for not being an impact player isn't his fault. He isn't suited to play in the 3-4 defense. He isn't big enough or strong enough to play the nose & he's too short in height & sleeve length to go against tackles in this league. Trade him now if they can get a 3rd round pick for him, which I question.

Free agency is a large question mark looming over the NFL right now. With no collective bargaining agreement in place for 2011, a work stoppage is a real possibility. Could they really screw up the number one sport in the land? You bet they could, because of money, what else? This next season could be an uncapped year meaning spend 'em if ya got 'em. But it will also reduce the number of unrestricted free agents, moving them to restricted agent status & harder to sign by other teams. Signing restricted free agents require the signing team to give up draft pick compensation. Unrestricted free agency does not, unless you sign a team's franchise player. So I think we'll see less movement in the free agent market. The Chiefs have as much more cap room than any team in the league, but if this is going to be an uncapped year, it's a moot point for the Chiefs. Considering who the Chiefs have signed as coordinators, how much money they have to spend & how desperately Clark Hunt wants his newly renovated stadium filled to capacity, I've identified a few free agents who might work for the Chiefs. I'm not suggesting these are the only guys who could make a major impact with this team, hell as bad as they are, just about any quality NFL starter could make an impact on this roster. Plus, the teams they're currently attached to could slap the franchise tag on them, making it virtually impossible to sign them. The Chiefs really need at least one impact player in free agency, considering their bankroll & their dreadful talent level, two would be even better.

Karlos Dansby--inside linebacker--Arizona
Dansby was the Cards' franchise player last season, I don't see that happening again. Dansby is big, 6' 4" 250-lbs, fast for his size & still young enough at 28 to give the Chiefs some quality years. Defensive captain for the Cardinals.

Richard Seymour--Defensive tackle/end--Oakland
Played defensive end on four Patriot Super Bowl teams. A 5-time Pro Bowl player. Solid in every fundamental required for a defensive lineman in a 3-4 defense. Played for Romeo Crennel. Huge at 6' 6" 310-lbs. Seymour is 30-years old.

Vince Wilfork--none tackle--New England
I can't see a way he isn't franchised by the Pats. Their defense is backsliding severely & Wilfork is an anchor they just can't afford to lose. Premium size at 6' 2" 335-lbs, he demands a double-team on just about every play. Extremely quick for someone his size & girth. Made the Pro Bowl this past season & in 2007. Only 28-years old, but don't get your hopes up, I think the Patriots will do whatever is necessary to keep Wilfork. Played 2 season under Crennel.

Eugene Amano--guard/center--Tennessee
I like this guy a lot, the Rimington Award winner as the best collegiate center, form Southeast Missouri State. Always a center in college, but Titan's center Kevin Mawae has made 7 Pro Bowls, so Amano has played guard. Big & strong at 6' 3" 310-lbs., Amano could fill a large hole for the Chiefs, replacing Rudy Niswanger. This is one the Chiefs should look at if the Titans don't franchise him(they also have Keith Bulluck to deal with).

Casey Hampton--nose tackle--Pittsburgh
Lots off downside to Hampton, he's older, 33 next September, he's probably looking for too much money in what should be his last professional contract & at best he would be a stop-gap player for 1-2 seasons. But he is a 5-time Pro Bowl player, including 2009. He has always been a nose tackle, he has always drawn double teams in an effort to control the middle of the line, freeing  ILB James Farrior to lead the team in tackles the past 2 seasons. Has overpowering strength, great size at 6' 2" 325-lbs & never been seriously injured.

As the free agent market gets sorted out, I'll keep you posted.

That leaves the draft & undrafted college players(Niswanger, Cox, Castille & Long). The Chiefs currently have 4 picks in the top-100 & ten overall. With the lack of a CBA & an impending rookie pay scale similar to the one used by the NBA, there will be more juniors making the jump to the NFL than ever before. I see as many as 65 coming out in April's draft. The deadline for their declaration is tomorrow night. I'll have a complete list posted here over the weekend. This dramatically increases the overall talent level in this draft.
We're going to see what a shrewd drafter Scott Pioli is in just 99 days. I'll have extensive scouting reports, a Chiefs' wish list & a even a watch list for undrafted college players. The next three months will be interesting to watch as our Chiefs make an effort to return to respectability.