Erik Walden could be an interesting addition for the Kansas City Chiefs

If the Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in need of veteran help for their pass rush, Erik Walden could make a nice candidate.

For a player with double digit sacks last season, Erik Walden is certainly flying under-the-radar as a free agent. The former Indianapolis Colts linebacker has gotten scant attention on the open market despite the fact that he wrapped last season as the team’s leader with 11 sacks. In fact, the only recent news was that Walden had been in “talks” with the New York Jets, the same team cutting such veterans left and right, back in early June.

For a team like the Kansas City Chiefs, Walden could be the perfect low-cost veteran addition to help bolster a pass rush that finished among the league’s worst teams in sacks in 2016. Walden’s total would have also led the Chiefs, who were actually led by Dee Ford’s 10 sacks. Despite the presence of many “name” pass rushers, injuries, age and fatigue took their toll on the team’s sack total. Guys like Justin Houston and Tamba Hali had only 4 and 3.5 sacks, respectively.

Heading into the 2017 season, it’s reasonable to expect those numbers to climb simply due to healthy guys coming back. If Justin Houston is healthy, he not only gets his own sacks but makes the job easier for everyone else. Ford should continue to develop in his fourth season and Hali’s overall pressure numbers show he’s got plenty left in the tank even if quick glances at the stats say otherwise. But for a veteran team with Super Bowl hopes, the pass rush simply has to be there on every down in some form. This is where Walden might help.