It was only a couple weeks ago that pass rusher Melvin Ingram made the decision to visit the K.C. Chiefs, his first such visit in free agency after officially leaving the Los Angeles Chargers after nine seasons with the team. Together in the same week as free agent corner K’Waun Williams, Ingram took in a visit to Arrowhead Stadium and Chiefs Kingdom waited for news that one or both players might sign with the team.
Williams wrapped his visit first and then almost immediately re-signed with the San Francisco 49ers in a bit of a surprising turn. After that, Ingram also wrapped his visit and simply left. No contract was on the table, but in the weeks that followed, Ingram still remains as available as ever. The Chiefs are the only known free agent interest he’s received at all.
At this point, the Chiefs still haven’t filled the need for a veteran pass rusher to help anchor the left side of the line, and Ingram hasn’t announced any plans to suddenly retire.
What makes the situation difficult to parse is that it’s unknown why Ingram left without a deal exactly. Is Ingram wanting to survey the waters long-term before making a move? Certainly a nine-year NFL vet would know that signing in March or signing in July really makes little difference when it comes down to it. Perhaps he has an offer in hand and has told the Chiefs to be patient.
KC Chiefs and Melvin Ingram is still waiting with the same needs as before.
Or maybe it’s the other way around. It’s very possible the Chiefs are looking at a market with more than one desirable veteran pass rusher available with potentially more to come after the draft. If Ingram’s price tag seems high, then maybe the strategy is to wait him out. Jadeveon Clowney is also waiting for a call, as is Olivier Vernon, Justin Houston, Aldon Smith, and Everson Griffen. That’s also before any new draftees cut some others loose this spring and summer.
It’s at least telling to fans that Ingram visited the Chiefs in the first place. The Chiefs have shown interest in no other, and the same can be said for Ingram. That makes it clear that the team, at least, likely values Ingram above the others to some degree and maybe that initial contact and visit has laid out a path to wrap up negotiations in the near future—maybe, say, after the NFL Draft is over in a month.
For now, both sides are positioned with the same need as before with both also having indicated mutual interest. With no movement in site, it’s impossible to read the situation accurately.