National Football League

Chiefs sign Schwartz, Howard in busy start to free agency

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:28 p.m. ET

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to a five-year deal with former Browns offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz while keeping defensive tackle Jaye Howard during a busy start to free agency Wednesday.

The Chiefs were also close to a deal to keep veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson, the franchise's career tackles leader, and had agreed to contracts with outside linebackers Jonathan Massaquoi and Frank Zombo to provide additional depth, according to multiple people with knowledge of the negotiations.

The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deals were not announced.

Schwartz has started every game for the Cleveland Browns since becoming their second-round pick in the 2012 draft. As the bookend to Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas, he often had to deal with the opponent's top pass rusher, and was solid in shutting down the Broncos' Von Miller during an overtime loss in October.

''I'm excited to announce that I'll be joining the Chiefs!!'' Schwartz tweeted Wednesday night.

The former Cal standout is the brother of offensive guard Geoff Schwartz, one of the first to sign with general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid after they took over the Chiefs. Schwartz played one season in Kansas City before signing a free-agent deal with the New York Giants.

The Chiefs moved quickly to add Schwartz with Jeff Allen and Donald Stephenson, two former Chiefs draft picks and key cogs on the offensive line, considering other landing spots.

Howard, who agreed to a two-year deal, was coming off a solid season that led to interest from several teams in free agency. But the former fourth-round pick ultimately decided to stick with Kansas City after starting 14 of 16 games and making a career-best 5 1/2 sacks.

With the Chiefs having already re-signed pass rusher Tamba Hali and franchising safety Eric Berry, the move to retain Johnson would allow them to keep the core of their defense intact.

Johnson was the Chiefs' first-round pick in 2005, and bounced back from a season-ending Achilles injury to make his fourth Pro Bowl last season. He started all 16 games and finished with 95 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions, passing Gary Spani along the way for the team's career tackles record.

The former Texas standout was testing free agency the first time, but he's said all along that he wanted to finish his career in Kansas City. Johnson will turn 34 in November.

Massaquoi and Zombo, who spent the past three seasons with the Chiefs, elected to sign with Kansas City despite Hali receiving a three-year deal one day earlier. They added depth behind Hali, Justin Houston and former first-round pick Dee Ford with backup linebacker Dezman Moses a free agent.

The biggest news of the day, though, came when the Chiefs were docked their third-round pick this April and a sixth-round pick next year for violating the NFL's anti-tampering rules. The franchise also was fined $250,000, while coach Andy Reid was fined $50,000 and general manager John Dorsey fined $25,000.

The Chiefs said in a statement they intend to appeal the penalties.

The club is accused of talking directly to wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, then a free agent, during the negotiating window. That communication is prohibited under the league's tampering policy.

Maclin eventually signed a $55 million, five-year deal with Kansas City.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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