Chiefs Training Camp Preview: Defensive Line
By Andrew Jones
What do we make of the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive line?
A case can be made that this position group is the best on the team dollar for dollar. While the Chiefs running backs may be one of the best groups in the league, this defensive line boasts some of the best at their position but they aren’t being paid like the best.
While this may change over the next few years with the contract of Dontari Poe coming to its end, the players believe that this is their best shot for a ring and so they give up a higher contract for a winning opportunity.
The Chiefs will be young at the position this year with the retirement of Mike DeVito. Allen Bailey will now have the most experience at six years while Poe and Jaye Howard each have five.
It was Howard who decided to stay in Kansas City despite the exploding defensive line market where he could have cashed in. Don’t get me wrong, roughly $6 million per year is not cheap but it is a deal when looking at how much the other free agents of Howard’s caliber were able to secure.
Overall Grade: A-
The biggest improvement along the defensive line in 2015 came from defensive end Jaye Howard. Howard took his modest 36 tackle, 1 sack 2014 season and blew the doors off with a 57 tackle, 5.5 sack season in 2015.
This was huge in part because of an injury to Poe during training camp and some missed time from defensive end Allen Bailey. Despite the injury, Poe still managed a sack, a forced fumble and an offensive touchdown.
The excitement this season comes from second round pick Chris Jones who many consider to be one of the steals of the draft. Jones brings a toughness and a power to the defensive line while he will learn better vision and motor from his excellent peers.
Youngsters Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Nick Williams will provide solid depth and build on their first active year on the roster.
Next: Projected Starters