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Chiefs should focus on fixing defense in free agency

Albert Wilson had a career-high 42 receptions last season. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

After agreeing to contract terms with wide receiver Sammy Watkins, here are the other moves the Kansas City Chiefs should consider when free agency opens at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, March 14:

Upgrade the secondary: Only one of last season’s top six cornerbacks will be under contract with the Chiefs once the trade of Marcus Peters to the Rams becomes official. The Chiefs are off to a good start in filling those holes after signing David Amerson and trading for Kendall Fuller, but have more work to do. Signing a corner such as E.J. Gaines or Prince Amukamara would make sense. The Chiefs also need help at safety, even though Eric Berry will be back after missing most of last season because of a torn Achilles tendon. The Chiefs should look at signing a player like Morgan Burnett or Tre Boston.

Improve the defensive line: The Chiefs could be losing in free agency nose tackle Bennie Logan, who was third on the team in snaps played among defensive linemen. The Chiefs need to find a lineman capable of handling Logan’s playing time in a rotation that also would include Chris Jones, Allen Bailey and Rakeem Nunez-Roches. A young lineman such as DaQuan Jones, 26, could be a good fit for the Chiefs. He’s known as a run defender but had a career-high 3.5 sacks for the Titans last season.

Sign QB Chase Daniel: The Chiefs got by last season with a rookie, Patrick Mahomes II as their primary backup at quarterback because the starter, Alex Smith, was durable and a veteran. But with Mahomes settling in as Smith’s replacement, the Chiefs need a veteran to serve as his backup. There’s no better choice than Daniel, who was Smith’s backup in Kansas City from 2013 through 2015. The offensive system has changed some since Daniel played with the Chiefs, but he’s a quick study who would be able to step in for Mahomes in the event of an injury and carry on to the satisfaction of coach Andy Reid.