The Kansas City Chiefs are in the spotlight for potential tampering violations, as recent reports suggest that they, along with the New England Patriots and Washington Commanders, may have engaged in preliminary discussions with free agent tackle Ronnie Stanley ahead of the official tampering window. The NFL mandates that conversations with unrestricted free agents should not take place before the legal tampering period kicks off, which was set to begin on March 10 this year.
However, Stanley reportedly reached an understanding with the Baltimore Ravens for a three-year, $60 million deal two days earlier, on March 8. This has raised eyebrows and led to speculation that the Chiefs were involved in discussions with him before the necessary clearance.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer shed some light on the situation during an interview with NBC Sports Boston, stating that Kansas City was in the mix with Baltimore regarding Stanley’s contract. He indicated that both teams were discussing terms around the $20 million per year mark, while the other involved teams, Washington and New England, exceeded $24 million per year. Breer noted that while these conversations might not have been officially sanctioned, they had occurred conceptually, suggesting that some level of free agency maneuvering may have unfolded over the weekend prior to the tampering window.
This leads to a growing concern from analysts, with NBC Sports’ Phil Perry commenting on the possibility that these interactions could be classified as illegal tampering.
What Could This Mean for the Chiefs?
If the NFL finds the Chiefs in violation of these tampering protocols, they could face penalties similar to what the Atlanta Falcons encountered last offseason for early contact with free agents. The Falcons were fined $250,000, with their general manager receiving a $50,000 fine, and they lost a 2025 fifth-round draft pick as part of their punishment.
For more egregious offenses, the league has not hesitated to enforce stiffer penalties, such as when the Miami Dolphins forfeited their 2023 first-round pick and 2024 third-round pick for tampering with high-profile names like Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
Currently, the NFL has not taken any formal action regarding the Chiefs. Nonetheless, the organization may want to brace itself for potential ramifications as the league delves deeper into the reports. Drawing from past instances, Kansas City could be looking at fines, the loss of draft picks, or other sanctions in the weeks ahead. The stakes are high, and as this situation unfolds, Chiefs fans and NFL enthusiasts will be closely monitoring how the league responds.a
