Notable Free Agents: Jason Babin, DE; Rocky Boiman, LB; Oliver Celestin, FS.

Projected 2009 Cap Space: $33,000,000

Draft Order: 3

Top Needs: The Chiefs have a variety of holes to fill this offseason, from the interior of their offensive line, to linebacker to safety and No. 2 wide receiver.

Offseason Outlook: Despite the lack of overall roster talent, the Chiefs aren’t a bad situation to walk into for new GM Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley. The team has plenty of cap space, a high draft pick and not one marquee free agent to re-sign. Pioli is essentially working with a clean slate to begin his era in Kansas City.

That said, there are some underlining issues on the horizon. Tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Larry Johnson, two players who will be counted on to spark the revival in Kansas City, have both expressed a desire to be traded this offseason. Gonzalez has wavered a bit in his demands, but it’s clear that LJ wants out of KC and maybe Pioli will grant his wish as long as the Chiefs can land proper compensation for the star back.

Another area Pioli might address is at quarterback, where incumbent Tyler Thigpen played well enough in the second half of the season to merit a crack at the starting spot, but probably isn’t the long-term answer. Considering Pioli is coming over from New England, he could look into what it would take to acquire Matt Cassel. Don’t count on it though. KC has the No. 3 overall pick and certainly won’t part with that high of a pick for Cassel, especially when you consider he might have been a product of the Patriots’ outstanding offensive system. Don’t be surprised if Thigpen is the Chiefs’ starter under center again next year.

Despite a YAHOO! Sports report on Wednesday that stated he wanted out of Kansas City, Chiefs’ tight end Tony Gonzalez is stating that he never asked to be traded.

“I want to make sure people know I have not asked for a trade,” Gonzalez said Wednesday morning before the AFC’s Pro Bowl practice. “I haven’t even talked to (new Chiefs general manager Scott) Pioli yet. I said there are reasons I would ask for a trade, but depending on the coach they bring in and the free-agent acquisitions, I could easily be a Chief next year, too. In fact, that’s the direction I want to go.”

Gonzalez was particularly irked at the attention his “trade demand” received as it aired on an ESPN television crawl for his Pro Bowl peers and coaches to see, not to mention unsuspecting members of the Chiefs organization on the mainland. Gonzalez said he isn’t as down on the franchise as he believes the story made him out to be.

Gonzalez, though, admits he doesn’t know whether he will still be playing by the time Kansas City is ready to contend for a Super Bowl title. The Chiefs finished 2-14 in 2008 — their second consecutive season with double-digit losses — and failed to reach the playoffs for the ninth time in Gonzalez’s 12 NFL seasons.

Gonzalez, who turns 33 later this month, is under contract through 2011. While committed to playing in 2009, Gonzalez said he is taking a season-by-season approach toward retirement.

The original report might have misinterpreted what he said, but Gonzalez did ask for a trade last October so I don’t blame any media outlet that ran with a story of him wanting to be dealt this offseason. It’s clear he wants to play for a Super Bowl and if the Chiefs hire a collegiate coach, he could ask for a trade shortly thereafter.

You get the feeling that this situation is far from over and certainly nothing has been settled.

Depending on whom the Chiefs name as their next head coach, tight end Tony Gonzalez would like out of Kansas City so that he has a chance to play in a Super Bowl before his career finishes.

And apparently Gonzo isn’t the only one who might want out of Kansas City as running back Larry Johnson is growing frustrated over the lack of direction by the Chiefs.

Speaking in the dressing room of the players’ hotel Tuesday, Gonzalez said he expects to hear of a decision about Kansas City’s next coach by Thursday. The 12-year veteran tight end and Pro Bowl regular restated his basic desire to go elsewhere, the week after spending time in Tampa in advance of the Super Bowl. Gonzalez is hoping to finish his career with an appearance of his own in the title game; he has appeared in the playoffs only three times in his career, losing each time.

And if Gonzalez gets his wish of a new home, he might not be alone, as teammate Larry Johnson also reportedly desires to leave the Chiefs – who, according to Gonzalez, aren’t making it easy for some players to want to stay.

“We traded away our best defensive player [Allen], by far. A game changer and you trade him away,� Gonzalez said. That’s just too much, and that’s sending a message to the guys on the team.�

I don’t fault either player for wanting to bolt, but with the hiring of Pioli as general manager, the Chiefs are finally heading in the right direction. Will they compete for the playoffs next year? Sure, maybe. Who would have thought that the Dolphins and Falcons would make the playoffs last year? One good offseason could turn around an entire franchise and Pioli has certainly built winners before.

I would love to see Gonzo go to another team and compete for a Super Bowl because he deserves that opportunity. But the Chiefs just made the first step in turning around their misfortunes and I would have to imagine Pioli would make a sound hire for head coach. So maybe Gonzo should stick around and continue helping the franchise he’s played for his entire career.