Chiefs rumors: Jared Odrick makes sense along the defensive line
By Matt Conner
Jared Odrick is the latest veteran player to receive his release before NFL free agency begins, and the Chiefs might make sense as a darkhorse candidate to sign him.
You’re not likely to hear the Kansas City Chiefs listed as a potential home for the newly released Jared Odrick at first glance. There are teams who need more help along the defensive line. There are also teams with plenty more money available. However, John Dorsey has a way of creating the space he needs to get the job done, which means Odrick might be a possibility after all.
One year ago, the Chiefs seem set along the defensive line with young impact players all across the defensive front, an impressive development over the years of Dorsey’s focus to bolster the defensive front. Dontari Poe was already in place as the anchor in the middle. Jaye Howard was brought in and then rewarded with a two-year extension, and Allen Bailey blossomed nicely and was also given a contract extension.
Alongside those three, the Chiefs also invested their top pick in last year’s draft in Chris Jones, a dynamic young player reminiscent of Kevin Williams, the great Vikings defensive lineman. Jones might be the best of the bunch.
Unfortunately, injuries took their toll and both Bailey and Howard ended the year on injured reserve. Factor in Poe’s ongoing back concerns and looming free agency and suddenly the Chiefs look a bit thinner one year later. Bailey and Howard are getting expensive and Poe might be allowed to leave. While the Chiefs also have other promising players like Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Nick Williams, the reality is that suddenly the line looks like they might be able to use another player if Poe is allowed to walk.
Depending on what Dorsey wants to do with Poe, he might find himself interested in a versatile veteran like Jared Odrick. Odrick should come a bit cheaper than some other options given the fact that he’s coming off of a season-ending shoulder injury and will turn 30 during the 2017 season. That might allow a cash-strapped team like the Chiefs to find a way to creatively bring Odrick aboard.
The good news is that before this last season, Odrick was an ironman who didn’t miss a single game in the previous five seasons. He’s able to play all across the line, a veteran who has great experience around the league and knows how to set the edge in the running game as a defensive end in a 3-4 base. Yet he’s also shown the ability to collapse the pocket and get at the passer with 23 career sacks to his credit.
At 6’5, 301 lbs., Odrick has the sort of size that the Chiefs should covet along the defensive front with a great mix of youth and experience. He would immediately shore up the team’s run defense (which needs serious addressing in the offseason anyway) while giving Bob Sutton a rotational body to put anywhere along the line without a real weakness.