Kansas City Chiefs sign linebacker Damien Wilson in free agency
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Damien Wilson to a deal in free agency, per reports on Tuesday.
Per NFL reports on Tuesday from numerous sources including Ian Rapoport, the Kansas City Chiefs have added a new linebacker to the team with the signing of Damien Wilson.
Wilson was the fourth round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2015 NFL Draft. He hit free agency this spring for the first time after playing out his rookie contract, and he joins former teammate Anthony Hitchens in the Chiefs’ linebacking corps.
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Wilson’s deal is being reported at two years for $5.6 million total, but it will be interesting to see how much is in guaranteed money when further details come out.
The Chiefs have now made a couple moves in free agency to strengthen their defense as they attempt to remake the unit front to back under new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Chiefs have already signed versatile defensive back Tyrann Mathieu to help shape the secondary, and now Wilson joins a linebacking group that underperformed in 2018.
For the Chiefs, Wilson will step in next to Hitchens and perhaps Reggie Ragland and/or Dorian O’Daniel in a group that will have to rearrange roles for everyone as the team shifts to a 4-3 base and new subpackage units under Spagnuolo’s leadership. Wilson could compete for starter’s reps on the outside, but he also brings plenty of special teams experience during his years with Dallas.
The signing gives the Chiefs further competition and flexibility at linebacker as they transition to a new era that will likely see the departure of both Dee Ford and Justin Houston from the linebacking corps. Wilson’s addition also means the Chiefs won’t have to feel like linebacker is a true need going into the late April draft.