Ranking the 10 best Kansas City Chiefs players on active roster

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JANUARY 12: Mike Pennel #64 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after a defensive stop against quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans during the AFC Divisional playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 12, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

10. Mike Pennel

Mike Pennel played just eight games in the regular season for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. But even with the limited games in Kansas City, Pennel made a big impact right away.

Kansas City needed help up front at defensive line alongside Chris Jones. Before the regular season, Breeland Speaks was lost for the year with a knee injury. Defensive ends Alex Okafor and Emmanuel Ogbah contributed but suffered season-ending injuries during the 2019 campaign.

Pennel joined right when Frank Clark shrugged off his slow start. Helping Jones and Clark, Pennel was instrumental in helping the Chiefs defensive line improve.

Pennel got his first start with the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game against the Tennessee Titans, where he had a big hand in limiting league-leading rusher Derrick Henry to 69 yards off 19 carries. Pennel also had a quarterback hit in the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers that led to an interception.

Pennel never played more than 24 snaps in a single game with the Chiefs. The Topeka native re-signed with the team this offseason, and with a full offseason and playing more with Jones and Clark, Pennel will be able to contribute more and possibly help form one of the best defensive lines in the NFL in 2020.

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