Former KC Chiefs are still surprisingly free agents

Anthony Hitchens

While there’s no denying that the Chiefs linebacking corps is as good as it has been in several years, the fact that Anthony Hitchens is no longer around is not a part of that. In fact, Hitchens has been the only above average element in the unit for the last few seasons—until the drafting and emergence of both Willie Gay Jr. and Nick Bolton.

When the Chiefs signed Hitchens to a five-year deal in free agency, it was supposed to help turn around a unit that had struggled considerably after watching the end of Derrick Johnson’s tenure with the team. Hitchens wasn’t a dynamic defender in the middle at first, and Brett Veach endured some criticism for signing him to such a hefty deal (up to $45 million). However, Hitchens progressed considerably with the Chiefs, especially after Steve Spagnuolo and Matt House arrived as coaches.

By the time he was finished in K.C., Hitchens had turned into a well-rounded veteran linebacker who was a leader on and off the field. While he’s into his third contract with whoever he signs next, he’s still not quite 30 years old. He’s also averaged 15 games played over 8 NFL seasons, which shows his durability. There’s every reason to believe he could step in as a solid starter in 2022 and offer quality reps on a multi-year deal.

For a hot minute, Veach even stated earlier this spring that the door was open to Hitchens potentially returning in the right circumstances. However that was before Leo Chenal was drafted in the third round to add even more high-ceiling talent to the mix. Hitchens might be squeezed out of K.C., but plenty of teams would be better for having signed him at this point.