Carlos Dunlap – Edge
If I was Brett Veach I would have signed Carlos Dunlap as soon as Melvin Ingram signed with the Miami Dolphins. In my opinion, Dunlap is the clear top option for the Chiefs.
Dunlap is getting up there in age at 33, but he still was effective against the run and pass last season. Dunlap had 8.5 sacks and had an impressive 72.8 run defense grade from PFF. That was a higher sack total and run defense grade than any defensive end for the Chiefs last season and that includes Melvin Ingram. Dunlap is 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds. He is a perfect match for what Steve Spagnuolo looks for in his big edge players.
There has also been some discussion about the Chiefs trading for Robert Quinn of the Chicago Bears. While Quinn had an amazing 18.5 sacks last season, that total was a real outlier compared to his totals in previous seasons. In fact, if you average Dunlap and Quinn’s sack totals for the six years prior to last year (2015-2020) Dunlap averaged 8.7 sacks during that stretch compared to just 6.25 from Quinn and Dunlap is better against the run. Last season’s impressive sack total aside, I just don’t get giving up draft capital for a 32-year-old Quinn when Dunlap can be signed as a free agent.
I’ve also seen Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul discussed as options as well. Houston still has some juice left, but has a complicated history with the Chiefs that could make signing him more difficult and JPP wasn’t anywhere near as productive as Dunlap was last season. I just don’t see any downside to adding Dunlap to the Chiefs roster at this point. He’s old enough that a rotational role makes sense, so it’s not like signing him would keep KC from using their young edge players as well.
So what do you think Chiefs fans? Do you like this list of possible free agents that the Chiefs could sign to help their defensive front? Do you agree that the Chiefs need more depth on the defensive line? Are there any other names that you think should have made this list instead? Do you agree that Carlos Dunlap makes the most sense for this roster? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments below.