Where will KC Chiefs turn after losing out on Melvin Ingram?
By Matt Conner
Free agency
At this stage, the free agent market at defensive end is made up of Jadeveon Clowney and then a lot of veteran pass rushers facing significant questions about what they have left to offer if anything. And it’s here that the Chiefs have to be smart shoppers.
Honestly, if a player is only going to bring name recognition to the roster, then it’s a fruitless exercise, which is why it’s hard to know what to make of the likes of Jason Pierre-Paul, Ryan Kerrigan, and Carlos Dunlap. Justin Houston is out there and available, but the Chiefs haven’t made any overtures in that familiar direction despite his productivity and availability in recent years.
There are younger faces who might bloom late with proper coaching, like Takk McKinley, but these sorts of flyers aren’t considered moves to be made to replace Ingram.
Back to Clowney, who was productive in ’22 for the Cleveland Browns. The Chiefs seem reticent to make any move with Clowney here, but he’s still young enough to project another solid year or two ahead of him. He’s also by far the best option. To be candid, he’d be even better than Ingram.