Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Chiefs secured three of their biggest free agents on Monday, re-signing wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and punter Dustin Colquitt and placing the franchise tag on offensive tackle Branden Albert.
According to the Kansas City Star, both Bowe and Colquitt agreed to five-year deals, while Albert will earn $9.83 million next season if he signs the Chiefs' franchise tender offer.
Financial terms on Bowe's pact, which has yet to be formally announced by the team, were not available, but the Star reported Colquitt's contract to be worth $18.75 million and will make the 2012 Pro Bowl selection the league's highest-paid punter.
Bowe started 12 of the 13 games he appeared in last season, but injuries combined with Kansas City's impotent offense limited the 28-year-old wideout to just three touchdowns and 801 yards on 59 catches.
He has spent his entire six-year career in Kansas City since the team selected him 23rd overall in the 2007 draft, and earned his first and only Pro Bowl selection in 2010 after erupting for 15 touchdowns and 1,162 yards on 72 grabs.
Colquitt, a third-round pick of the Chiefs in 2005, has also played his entire career in Kansas City and garnered his first Pro Bowl nod in 2012 after averaging a career-best 46.8 yards per punt.
"We are excited that we were able to come to a long-term agreement with Dustin and keep him in Kansas City," Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said. "Dustin is an elite punter in this league, he's done a great job for this franchise the past eight seasons, and we are looking forward to working with him."
Albert started 11 of the 13 games he appeared in last season, the 28-year-old left tackle's fifth in the league. Since Kansas City selected him 15th overall in the 2008 draft, the 28-year-old has started 71 of 73 career games played.
It's unclear as to whether the Chiefs will still attempt to work out a long- term contract with Albert, who was plagued by back problems for part of last season, but the team has until July 15 to negotiate.
Placing the franchise tag on Albert also gives the Chiefs more freedom with the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft.
