Kansas City Chiefs: Top ten training camp battles to watch

6. Defensive Ends (not named Frank Clark)

In defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s new 4-3 base defense there could be some interesting competition for snaps between free agent additions Alex Okafor and Emmanuel Ogbah and former second-round draft picks Breeland Speaks and Tanoh Kpassagnon.

Given his NFL production you have to think that Okafor is the likely starter opposite Frank Clark. I almost left him out of this discussion, and while I think Okafor is a lock to get playing time, I think just how much will depend on the performance during camp of the other three guys.

Ogbah, Speaks, and Kpassagnon have all had rather uninspiring starts to their careers. I think all three have the physical tools to be contributors in a good defensive line rotation if they can put it all together. The other thing that all three of them could also contribute is the ability to slide inside and rush the passer on the interior. I am very curious to see how Spagnuolo uses all three of those players in camp and if any of them look like they could see things “click” in this new system.

It would not shock me if any of those three players stepped up and became a key contributor this season for the Chiefs. It would also not shock me if any of those three didn’t make the final 53-man roster. That’s a pretty big window of potential outcomes, so I will definitely be watching those guys close in camp to see how it looks like they are adapting. Maybe one of them can challenge Okafor for playing time or, better yet for competition, even a spot in the starting line up.

Now on to the top five camp battles.