Assessing Free Agent John Henderson

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(Source: Cunningham Photos)

If the rumors are true, and John Henderson is either visiting with the Chiefs today (as was intially reported), or speaking with the Chiefs (as 610 has since tweeted), then we have to examine whether this is a signing that would either help the team, hamstring it, or have no effect.

A brief analysis is after the jump. Feel free to add your thoughts.

1. Henderson will require a hefty payday for the Chiefs to sign him. Henderson is not likely to come to Kansas City on the cheap as Thomas Jones has. He is a former Pro Bowler playing a position of longevity and significant importance. At 31, he will likely be looking to play on a competitor. For a non-competitor like the Chiefs to sign him, he would require a significant contract — not of historical proportions, but many millions a year for a few years, with millions and millions guaranteed. So the Chiefs would really have to know what they’re doing if they sign him up.

2. It is very unlikely that Henderson will be a part of a Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl run. The Chiefs are set to get within spitting distance of .500 this year, but that’s more because of our amazing schedule of pathetic opponents than because of any particular improvement in talent. In reality, this team is probably still three years away from being Super Bowl competitive. By then, Henderson will be 34 and on his last legs.

3. While he doesn’t have a natural position in the 3-4, he does have the size to play NT. Stories abound right now that Henderson is not a natural NT in the 3-4. Fair point — he’s never really played the position before (he’s never really played the 3-4 before), and his 6’7″ height is freakishly tall for the position. But Henderson gets very, very low and is very, very strong. His 330 lbs. frame fits the spatial requirement for the position. So while he is not a sure thing at the position, he is very good at what he does and can fill in at the position for a year or two. He is not an ideal candidate for the position, but at this point the Chiefs need something at the nose, and they just don’t have it.

4. Adding Henderson as a DE would seem to be an unnecessary addition that would involve either changing the scheme or moving players around. Henderson at DE is simply not worth the massive coin it will take to bring him in. We already have three players we’ve invested in at the position: Jackson, Magee, and Dorsey who’s just now settling in for a position he wasn’t really meant to play. Our most effective pressure DE right now is Wallace Gilberry, who has been a very pleasant surprise. We don’t need Henderson at DE. The idea starting to circulate that Dorsey could be moved to NT is hilariously awful. Dorsey could play the position occasionally as a pure penetrator, much like the Cardinals’ Darnell Dockett. But to man it as a space eater and run stuffer is not only a complete waste of his talent, it is a square peg in a round hole.

It’s possible, however, that Crennel may be interested in a more hybrid scheme that meshes the 3-4 with the 4-3, altering between them on a semiregular basis. If that’s the case, then Henderson could be a savvy acquisition. Henderson and Dorsey could both do spot work at the nose tackle position based on whatever the situation is, Shaun Smith can be brought in at other times, and when the Chiefs go with a 4-man front, you’d be facing a DL lineup of Hali, Dorsey, Henderson, and Jackson. Very promising.

5. Henderson struggling at the NT position could lead to locker room issues. If a transition to nose tackle doesn’t work out for Henderson, there could be trouble. Nose tackle is an excruciating position to play if you aren’t playing it well (just ask Tank Tyler). Facing that negative pressure, not just on the field but from the fanbase, could at the least lead to a complete lack of interest on Henderson’s behalf — and at worst, a venomous frustration that can spread throughout the entire defense. Trying Henderson out at the position does not come without a fair amount of risk.

Conclusion: Henderson would be, essentially, a very expensive stop-gap player. There’s little reason to sign these players unless your team is very desperate for the help. Henderson may be an unnatural fit at nose tackle, but he could at least play it with some success, and the Chiefs are so bankrupt at the position they can’t afford to be picky. If the Chiefs pick him up as a DE, it would be an unnecessary addition and financially burdensome — and again, Dorsey simply cannot play NT in this scheme. But if the Chiefs were to pick him up as a pure NT, or as the start of a lethal hybrid front with Hali, Dorsey, and Jackson, he’s definitely worth the massive contract he’ll require.

It actually happening? My guess is as good as yours at this point.

John Henderson: John Henderson not visiting the Ch

[...] Assessing Free Agent John Henderson Arrowhead Addict (blog) – Apr 28th – 01:19 [...]

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kcchiefschase

well john hendersons visit has been cancelled according to adam teicher so it seem were definately not getting henderson

Spencer

You can often times learn more by taking the opposing view in a debate. That is why everyone that writes for this site doesn't drop to their knees ready to blow the Chiefs for every move they make. That is why this site rocks. Keep stirring the pot Andrew! Controversy spurs discussion.

cameron

patrick,

i am not trying to get personal with the writer i am merely pointing out the fact that all he is doing is saying that the Chiefs are stupid for what they are doing. if you are like me, then you encounter people on a day to day basis that tell you your an idiot for being a chiefs fan. i just like to turn the AA to see what my chiefs are doing to improve, not why they suck for trying to make the chiefs a better football team. i guess i am doing to him what he is doing to the chiefs, criticizing his job. i just dont see how you can look at the chiefs situation or their draft and say that they really screwed it up without offering a reason why. i think we all know that they know a little more about football then we do and its their only job to do what's right for the chiefs so we should trust in them a little more instead of just being negative. i have to disagree with you when you said he is lifting up AA. by being negative about every single move the chiefs make it helps nothing. all it does is bring us fans down. i do agree that different opinions make the site better but not just negativity all the time, non stop. just suggesting he change the way he posts a little bit. i dont think he is stupid at all. he probably knows more about the chiefs than i do. sorry i came off rude, just trying to suggest that he change his mindset... thats what a blog is all about right? thanks.

i disagree with massive contract i say we can get him for 3 yrs 15 million

it comes down to this pay john henderson because either way we need someone else in the Middle shaun smith and ron edwards arent enough we need another BIG BODY PAY THE MAN

jones

I disagree with the article saying Henderson can not be part of the "Super Bowl" run. (Thinking Super Bowl at this point is a little out there anyway) But NTs have historically had fairly long careers. Considering that he could be a 2 down player that would seem to be able to keep him healthy. He could be a foundation at NT for the next 4/5 years.

Patrick Allen

I agree. I think he could be around for the 3-4 year range.

Hopefully we will be well in the hunt by then.

this article sucks... This author rarely writes anything positive about the chiefs and there are so many positive things going on! All he posts is his complaints or why the chiefs are doing the wrong thing. If you know so much why aren't you a GM? You don't know more about football than the chiefs staff. You don't know what's best for the chiefs they do. You are pulling down this whole blog site. If Crennel and his defensive line coach thinks dorsey can play NT then he can play NT. If they think henderson will help us then he will help us. I think I will put my trust in a guy who has multiple superbowl rings instead. Nice try.

Hey Cameron, thanks for commenting.

I don't think the article sucks at all and there is no reason to make it personal with Andrew.

Andrew is a very important part of AA. The fact that he sometimes disagrees with what the Chiefs are doing is a good thing. It adds another perspective to this site. Thus, I don't think Andrew is pulling this site down at all. If anything, he is helping to lift it up.

We are all Chiefs fans but the reality is, not all of us are going to agree on what is best for the team. In the end, though, we still want the same thing which is for the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl.

What is great about AA is that we can come and talk Chiefs and disagree and debate, celebrate.

Andrew is doing a brave thing to offer his opinion for all to read. By doing so, he opens himself up to criticism. He is OK with that. Hell, we sometimes call him "The Crock Pot."

I challenge you to join the debate Cameron. Tell Andrew why you think he is wrong, not why he is stupid for having an opinion.

If you don't like it when Andrew is negative about the Chiefs tell him why you think differently...that or read my articles. I am the biggest Chiefs homer there is! =)

We could sign Jamarcus Russel and I would probably find a way to put a positive spin on it. ;)

CClary

I think that he will want to play for Crennel. If Pioli cant get it done i think that Crennel can.

I am tempering my expectations on the Henderson signing. I wnat him to be a chief and believe he would be a valuable addition. The question isnt if we want him its gonna be does he want us? Lets hope Pioli has his selling shoes on.

CHIEFSFANATIC

Hey he is a hell of lot better than what we got,dont let him leave kansas city with out a done deal.

Randy

I have one thing to say. If he can make us better sign him. Go CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!

Olivier

I say, a try at NT would be good, depending the bucks he wants. And I think KC should trade Dorsey, to me he is not a fit at DE. We can trade him to Detroit for instance for Sammy Lee Hill + other things, Hill having the frame and size to play NT and learn under Henderson.

brando48kc

i like how this article tries to prove that the chiefs dont need henderson....how much are you getting paid to do this article? i mean are you trying to prove that the chiefs dont need him? congrats on trying though...it might work on a few fans but get real who cares how much we pay him.....your just trying to bring positives to the idea of not trying to sign him.....good luck...

americanwolfx

I don't think that's what the article was written for. It points out the negatives and the positives. There are a lot of questions involved in this deal. What position is he going to play? How much is it gonna cost us? How long will he be able to contribute to the team? I think that's all it was trying to point out. If we are signing him as a DE I don't think it would be worth it. However at the NT position I think it would be worth every penny. Glad that you support the Chiefs just remember these articles are written to shine light on whats going on in the organization not try to persuade the reader.

haha yea i understand...i was just a lil frustrated.....we will be a good team next year... i was just over reacting and would really like to add someone of his caliber...but i understand the position were in right now an i trust what the organization is doing.. we cant add all the players we need all at once..it takes atime (especially because im a huge royals fan and am used to it lol)

The KC Eye

I think Big John is a necessary risk. Money shouldn't be a factor. This fanbase has endured too much losing to see this team pass on any chance to improve. Sign him to a two or three year deal with an easy way for the team to get out of it after this year or next.

Please read and comment on my post-Chiefs draft blog here.

I say pay the man even if he isn't part of our super bowl run. He is an absolute animal who loves to play the game. He would be a great mentor for the rookies. He can help develop the player that will one day take over his spot. That player will be a part of our super bowl run. Even though it wouldn't be Henderson himself I would like to think that that counts as being a part of our super bowl run.

Andrew Crocker

Again, it depends on what they want the guy to do.

If he's a nose, I say pay the man. If we're going with a hybrid, I'd probably still say pay the man -- we have to upgrade the front seven SOMEHOW.

If they're going to put him at DE exclusively, though, it's a piss poor move. Especially if they're considering this awful idea of Dorsey as a full-time nose.