Several veteran linebackers remain available for Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs still have several veteran free agent linebackers to select from if they want to add someone in free agency.

The Kansas City Chiefs have made it clear that they are shopping at linebacker. Of course, most fans already knew that much before the offseason even started. Before any injuries or player exits, before even this year, the Chiefs listed “needs,” per NFL analysts, have included “inside linebacker” for every season of John Dorsey’s tenure with the team.

This year, that perceived need might be a real one, since the Chiefs are as thin and uncertain as ever before in the heart of the defense. The unit is a completely different one when Derrick Johnson is not roaming the middle, and coming off of a torn Achilles tendon, the Chiefs might not be as comfortable making positive assumptions about his return. In addition, the team also watched veteran Josh Mauga become a free agent after he also was injured last season.

The only healthy player standing at inside linebacker these days is Ramik Wilson, a literal mixed bag of a player who was both waived and re-signed last season, who looked much sharper on the field in the second half after a forgettable short career until that point. The former fourth round pick had never turned the corner as a capable run-stopper/thumper in the middle next to DJ, which forced the team to always have a veteran on hand a la Joe Mays or Mauga. A positive string of games down the stretch might not be enough for Dorsey to kick the heels up on the proverbial desk at this point.

Yes, it is possible that Justin March-Lillard could be the answer. It’s also true that D.J. Alexander could prove to be more than a special teams ace. But Dorsey’s revolving door of free agent visits this offseason shows that’s not the dominant view in the front office. The team is looking for help, even if they’re content to wait to make a move post-draft. The good news is they’ve got choices.