Kansas City Chiefs: Under-the-radar free agents to consider
By Kody Latham
Dominique Easley, DL
This would be the most significant boom or bust signing on the list. Dominique Easley has a laundry list of ACL concerns going back to his college days. He tore his ACL in both knees before he entered the draft, once in 2011 and once in 2013, his senior season. After the second tear, Easley decided to enter the NFL draft with little hope of being selected in the first round even though his talent warranted it.
To everyone’s surprise, the New England Patriots selected Easley 29th overall in the 2014 draft. Easley finished his first season with the Patriots with nine tackles, one sack, one pass defended, and one interception before he was placed on IR. Unfortunately, Easley’s second season would finish much like his first, and he has put on IR again. The Patriots then released him after the 2015 season ended.
Easley was then picked up by the Los Angeles Rams where he finally seemed to find his footing playing in all 16 games that season and finishing the season with 35 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one pass defended, and two forced fumbles, and an 80.3 rating by PFF. Easley was ready to build upon his one healthy season but tore his ACL in training camp this past season.
Easley is not expected to return to the Rams and could be a good rotational player for the Chiefs where they lack depth. Easley has proven that his body cannot stand up to the constant punishment that a starter receives. As a backup though he can be instrumental, the Chiefs need all the help they can get along the front seven. Easley would be a very low-cost signing that could help keeps guys like Chris Jones fresh throughout games and the season.