Chiefs trade rumors: Melvin Ingram mentioned in connection with K.C.

Just when you thought the idea of Melvin Ingram in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform had come and gone, the NFL trade deadline has connected the dots once again—at least in terms of sorting out potential trade ideas.

NFL reporter Ian Rapoport went through a list of names who are likely going to be made available at the trade deadline soon, and it seems as if the Pittsburgh Steelers might look to deal Ingram after just a half-season with the team. On the other side, Rapoport says the Chiefs make sense as a target. Specifically he wrote in a column on Sunday morning:

"The Chiefs have been among those on the hunt around the league for a pass rusher, and they did host Ingram on a visit before he signed."

The first half of Rapoport’s final line is what is really driving this most. The Chiefs have exhibited a need for someone to help provide some pass rushing production apart from Mike Danna, and the team was previously connected in rumors to Houston Texans pass rusher Whitney Mercilus, who was was released last week. Instead he signed with the Green Bay Packers with rumors that others teams were intrigued as well.

The Chiefs have been mentioned in connection with a Melvin Ingram trade.

The second half of that statement is the part that actually makes a bit less sense. The Chiefs and Ingram had apparently mutual interest enough to schedule a workout and visit to Arrowhead Stadium, but the Chiefs let the longtime Chargers defensive end leave without a contract offer. A few weeks later, the Chiefs saw the Steelers sign Ingram and the Chiefs reached out to Alex Okafor for a reunion shortly thereafter.

It stands to reason that if the Chiefs really wanted Ingram the first time around, it would have made sense to sign him on the open market and have him for a full season than be forced to give up any sort of trade asset and hope he’s good for the final half-season instead.

However, there are always particulars involved in negotiations about which no one in the general public will ever know and perhaps the timing just wasn’t right for one side or the other in the past. It’s not as if the Chiefs should really turn their nose up at any option for help right now.

If the Chiefs are going to be patient here, there’s a case to be made for waiting for Chris Jones to get fully healthy from his wrist injury and for Frank Clark to be allowed back into a groove while the Chiefs watch Danna continue to improve and hope Joshua Kaindoh can offer something with further experience as a rookie.

Ingram has been playing less and less for the Steelers in recent weeks. After playing as many as 100 percent of all snaps in Week 3, he was only on the field a quarter of the time in Week 6. He has 11 pressures, 6 quarterback hits and 1 sack in 6 games for Pittsburgh.