Kansas City Chiefs: How defensive contracts will affect roster battles

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KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 29: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Buffalo Bills avoids a sack attempt by Justin Houston #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium during the first quarter of the game on November 29, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Outside Linebacker

I originally was going to lump all of the linebackers together since there is some overlap with where guys might play (and if I’m being honest, a few of the UDFAs I’m not 100% sure about). However, 14 guys all in one group is just a little too much to digest all at once. So I’m going to split it into outside and inside guys (seven of each) but please understand that some of these guys could end up in the opposite group. For example, I’ve got Dorian O’Daniel with the inside linebackers but there are reports that he was playing outside in OTAs. I still think this will give you a decent look at where guys stand with roster spots and their contracts.

Here’s the guys I’m classifying as OLB.

The candidates:

Justin Houston

Age: 29
Last year under contract: 2020
Post June 1 cut? $15 million saved

Dee Ford

Age: 27
Last year under contract: 2018
Post June 1 cut? $0 saved

Breeland Speaks

Age: 22
Last year under contract: 2021
Post June 1 cut? $480k saved

Tanoh Kpassagnon

Age: 23
Last year under contract: 2020
Post June 1 cut? $106k saved

Frank Zombo

Age: 31
Last year under contract: 2018
Post June 1 cut? $1.2 million saved

Tyrone Holmes

Age: 24
Last year under contract: 2019
Post June 1 cut? $630k saved

Robert McCray

Age: 22
Last year under contract: 2020
Post June 1 cut? contract not factored into salary cap

My takeaway here is that if Dorian O’Daniel is also getting some OLB work then it is going to be a real uphill battle for Zombo, Holmes, and McCray to make the roster. I see Houston, Ford, Speaks, and Kpass as locks to make the team (as well as O’Daniel). If they want to keep five OLB (not counting O’Daniel) then it will be up to Holmes or McCray (who is another bigger body like Speaks/Kpass) to play well enough that the Chiefs feel they can part ways with the veteran Zombo and clear $1.2 million in cap space. The real battle at outside linebacker will be between Ford and Speaks (and maybe Kpass) to see how the playing time opposite Houston is split up.

Now let’s look at the inside linebackers.

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