Kansas City Chiefs: Under-the-radar free agents to consider
By Kody Latham
Tahir Whitehead, LB
Tahir Whitehead entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick out of Temple. Coming out of college, he was looked at as an undersized outside linebacker that may struggle in run defense at the NFL level. The Detroit Lions must have believed something similar since Whitehead played a minimal role during his first two years in the NFL. In 2014, Whitehead was given a chance to prove his worth when current starting inside linebacker tore his ACL while celebrating a sack. He started 15 out of 16 games that season and finished the year with 86 tackles, five passes defended, and two interceptions.
The following year Whitehead battled for to continue to be the starter but was slated to be the backup once again. Whitehead didn’t start his first game until week 10 that season to replace outside linebacker Travis Lewis. Going into the 2016 season former starting inside linebacker Stephen Tulloch left via free agency. Whitehead entered the starting lineup and responded well, as he finished the season with 132 tackles (99 of them solo), and five passes defended.
This past season Whitehead continued his excellent play racking up 110 tackles, one sack, two passes defended, and one interception. With the Lions drafting Jarrad Davis in the first round of last year’s draft, the writing has been on the wall for Whitehead. The 27-year-old is unlikely to return to Detroit and will be looking for a new home. With the departure of Derrick Johnson, the Chiefs lost a lot of NFL experience at the middle linebacker position. Add in Whitehead’s flexibility to play both inside and outside, and you have yourself a player that fills multiple needs for the Chiefs.