Five genius changes that saved the KC Chiefs season

The Melvin Difference

Last spring, the Kansas City Chiefs invited then-free agent Melvin Ingram to join them at Arrowhead for an official visit. The entire affair came and went without a contract offer, but Ingram reportedly stayed on the Chiefs radar for the next few months before the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to join them in time for training camp. The Chiefs quickly moved on to Alex Okafor and that was the end of it.

Unfortunately for Gordon (or fortunately depending on how you view things), things in Pittsburgh never quite worked out as intended and the Steelers found younger players they liked more in a rotational role. Shortly before the NFL’s trading deadline, Brett Veach offered up a sixth-round pick to the Steelers in exchange for Ingram and that was it. Ingram was finally a member of the roster.

Ingram hasn’t loaded up the stat sheet with tons of sacks but he is seeing fairly consistent pressure on the edge and he’s a presence outside in the run game as well. With a burgeoning Reed and a healthy Clark to go with Jones who is back in fine form inside, Ingram gives the Chiefs a true fourth disruptor. When the games become tougher and the trenches even more emphasized, the Chiefs look like a team that’s deep in talent inside and out and that’s going to serve them best in January and February.