Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? Part 2

This is the second part of my free agency breakdown. It's hard to say who's expendable and who's not on a division champion, but the only constant in the NFL is change. So, once again, I will be using the labels of 'valuable' and 'expendable.' With this post, I start with:

Offensive Line

• Center Casey Wiegmann: Wiegmann was a long time Chief until he joined the Broncos after the 2008 season. This was in an effort to get younger at the center position for the Chiefs. In 2009, Wiegmann made the Pro Bowl as an alternate with the Broncos. After the season, however, Wiegmann was then released by Denver, who wanted to get younger at the position. The Chiefs signed him to compete with Rudy Niswanger. Wiegmann not only competed with Niswanger but gained the starting position for the entire season. At 37, Wiegmann is still the best center we have.
• VALUABLE
• Center Rudy Niswanger: Niswanger is three inches taller, 16 lbs heavier, and nine years younger than Wiegmann. But over his 31 starts in the 2008 and 2009 seasons, it became clear he's not the player Wiegmann is. 
• EXPENDABLE
• Right Tackle Barry Richardson: Richardson beat out Ryan O'Callaghan for the starting right tackle position for the season. But Richardson had trouble holding his blocks towards the end of the season. Plus, his scuffle with the Chiefs sideline at home against Denver won't help his chances of winning over Pioli. O'Callaghan is bigger, and although Richardson did beat out O'Callaghan for the starts, that doesn't mean he's irreplaceable. 
• EXPENDABLE
• Right Tackle Ryan O'Callaghan: O'Callaghan is not the best right tackle in the world. He came over from New England the same year that Cassel and Vrabel did. He started 12 games in 2009 but only one this season. And since I can't get rid of both of our right tackles, I had to give it to the guy who didn't shove a coach.
• VALUABLE

Defensive Line & Linebackers

• Defensive Tackle Ron Edwards: Edwards and Smith are the only true nose tackles on the Chiefs' roster. Edwards had 15 starts at the nose tackle position, recording 26 tackles and 2 sacks. He's been a solid player, but at 31, he could be replaced.
• EXPENDABLE
• Defensive Tackle Shaun Smith: Smith is one of the most popular players on the defense. Picked up last offseason, he went on to have 10 starts, 56 tackles and 1 sack. Smith is very vocal on the defense and a good leader. And one has to believe that Tyson Jackson will be better next season and gain that starting role as defensive end, pushing Smith over to nose tackle.
• VALUABLE
• Defensive End Wallace Gilberry: Gilberry has been a great situational player for the Chiefs defense. This third-year, undrafted player, recorded 23 tackles, 7 sacks and two forced fumbles. This was the second most sacks on the team.
• VALUABLE
• Linebacker Charlie Anderson: Anderson had zero statistics for the 2010 season and only appeared in two games.
• EXPENDABLE
• Linebacker Cory Greenwood: Greenwood is one of those players that I would like to see still be with the Chiefs next season. He was the third overall pick in the Canadian Football League's 2010 draft. He chose to play for the Chiefs, however, when he was offered the opportunity. Greenwood was limited to special teams and some sub-packages on defense, where he had 11 tackles. Although I like Greenwood, he is a third-string middle linebacker.
• EXPENDABLE
• Linebacker Tamba Hali: Hali  might just be the best player on the Chiefs defense; heck, he might be the best player on the Chiefs team. He had 14.5 sacks in the regular season and two more in the playoffs against the Ravens. If we lose Hali, then our defense is going to suffer greatly. Pay the man what he wants.
• VALUABLE VALUABLE VALUABLE!
• Linebacker Corey Mays: After starting 13 games for the Chiefs last year, Mays didn't start a single game this season. Instead, Jovan Belcher earned the starting role. Mays had six tackles on special teams this season.
• EXPENDABLE
• Linebacker Mike Vrabel: Vrabel is a veteran, a leader, and the signal caller for the defense. I'd hate to see Vrabel go, but at 35, I wouldn't be surprised if he considered retirement. Even without retirement, however, the Chiefs have been grooming Andy Studebaker to replace Vrabel. This was evidenced by Studebaker's new contract he received in September (4 years, $5.735 million). Because of this, it seems that the Chiefs are prepared to get younger at linebacker, 10 years younger in fact.
• EXPENDABLE

Now this list of free agents consists of three of our six defensive linemen, and five of our nine linebackers. So, although I've listed some as expendable, that doesn't mean the Chiefs will let these players go. Obviously, because we need a depth chart.

The final post will be the Defensive Backs.