Interior Defensive Lineman
Target: Geno Atkins
Specs: 31 years old, 10 year NFL vet, 6’1, 300 lb., 7-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All Pro
The Why: Atkins is not the 2015 First Team All-Pro player that he once was, but he is significantly more capable of holding down the middle of the defensive line than any of the current active bodies along the Chiefs’ front. In addition, a eventual combination of Jones/Atkins would be a monster duo for Kansas City to deploy in January.
The How: This would represent a significant financial investment for the team and that would need to be balanced in any trade offer. Kansas City likely cuts bait after this season, but would take on $15m in dead cap over the next three years to do so. Maybe they could turn around and re-trade him after the season to avoid some of that hit. At any rate, it seems like the Bengals would be wise to be sellers. They would probably want a 2nd round pick for Atkins, but at his age and with his cap hit over the next several seasons, Veach should push to make the move for a 3rd round selection instead.