Preparing a free agency wishlist for the KC Chiefs defense
By Drew Brooks
![LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams runs onto the field before playing the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. San Francisco won 20-7. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams runs onto the field before playing the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. San Francisco won 20-7. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f7d3f0d39479e1b53fb4fad5f9cb5ae264540d473b8d1e3bb54f195ee43a79da.jpg)
D.J. Reader
One defensive tackle that would be a nice addition for the Chiefs is D.J. Reader of the Houston Texans. Reader has been in the league for four years and has started 52 out of the 61 games he’s played. This most recent year, Reader had 2.5 sacks and 52 tackles in the 15 games he started.
During his time in the NFL, Reader has racked up 6.5 sacks and 154 tackles. He’s played defensive end as well as nose tackle, so the Chiefs could play him inside or outside depending on their need.
Reader is only 25 years old and has plenty of his career left ahead of him. Spotrac sets his market value as $11.9 million, but with the salary cap going up, the Chiefs could easily make a deal with him work.
Dontari Poe
Another defensive tackle the Chiefs could add is a familiar face, Dontari Poe. Poe spent five seasons with the Chiefs, from 2012 to 2016. He then spent one season with the Atlanta Falcons and spent these last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers just declined Poe’s option, making him a free agent.
Poe would be a cheaper option for the Chiefs and would bring a veteran presence to the defensive line. In this last season, Poe started 10 games and played in 11. He had 4 sacks and 22 tackles.
Perhaps Poe’s most memorable moment when he was with Kansas City was his touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos. He would be a great low-risk addition to the defensive line and would surely be welcomed back to Chiefs Kingdom. He’d likely accept a cheap deal to reunite with the Chiefs as well.