Chiefs rumors: Star Lotulelei could be in Brett Veach’s plans
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans are reportedly interested in defensive tackle Star Lotulelei of the Carolina Panthers.
The Kansas City Chiefs have some significant work to do in their front seven if they want to remake their pass rush into a playoff-caliber unit, and the rumor around the 2018 NFL Combine is that the team might be interested in free agent-to-be Star Lotulelei to bolster their defensive front.
Tony Pauline reported from this year’s Combine in Indianapolis that the Chiefs and Houston Texans were among the teams expected to be interested in Lotulelei—that is, if he’s allowed to hit the open market. Lotulelei has been with the Carolina Panthers since he was their first round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft and Pauline says they’re interested in potentially keeping him.
Like most players who hit the free agent market, it’s likely going to come down to dollars. Interest is one thing, but after 76 career regular season games, Lotulelei has finally earned the chance to make life-changing dollars. The Chiefs, or any other team, will likely have to be the ones to serve up the best offer in order to win his services.
If the Chiefs are able to bring in Lotulelei, it will most certainly mean that Bennie Logan is one-and-done in Kansas City. There’s been little buzz about Logan on the open market, not only on the part of the Chiefs but also the rest of the NFL. Given the lack of great options along the defensive line, Logan should still find a few teams interested, and maybe the Chiefs would want to bring him back at the right price.
Spotrac has Lotulelei with a market value of $8.4 million per season over the course of four years.