The Kansas City Chiefs are set to host free agent defensive end Arden Key for a visit to Arrowhead Stadium on Friday, per NFL reporter Field Yates.
For fans who have been scratching their heads wondering why the Chiefs haven’t made a move to bring in a fresh face for the pass rush, this visit will come as good news knowing how great the need is up front. General manager Brett Veach stated before the offseason that the pass rush was going to receive an overhaul, but so far it’s been the source of little activity.
Key is a familiar face for the Chiefs after watching him play them twice each season as a member of the Oakland (and then Las Vegas) Raiders. Key was the Raiders’ third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft at No. 87 overall.
The Kansas City Chiefs are set to host free agent pass rusher Arden Key on a visit to Arrowhead on Friday.
After three seasons in the AFC West, the Raiders cut ties with Key last spring and the San Francisco 49ers swooped in and signed him. After putting up only 3 total sacks in three years with the Raiders, Key had 6.5 for the Niners last year in a breakout season and contract year. Key also added 19 pressures and 17 QB hits.
For the Chiefs, the desire to improve the pass rush is coming off of a disappointing season in which the team’s defense failed to disrupt the passer in several key games from the beginning of the season to the team’s meltdown of a loss in the AFC Championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Frank Clark was retained for the 2022 season after reaching a deal to restructure his contract instead of releasing him outright. The team also brought back Derrick Nnadi along the interior. Still, Melvin Ingram remains a free agent and the team is expected to make a pick or two in the upcoming draft to add youth and talent outside on the edges.
Key, who is still only 25 years old, has 9.5 sacks in 54 career games.