Exploring Kansas City Chiefs range of options for pass rushing help
By Matt Conner
A veteran free agent signing
If the Chiefs want to hold on to all draft assets, they can sign a veteran free agent, which is what they wanted to do last year (and even this year) when they went after longtime Chargers pass rusher Melvin Ingram again and again,
The Chiefs whiffed on Ingram once again in ’22, but the downside here is that they waited to make another move until Ingram made up his mind. By that time, every prominent name in free agency had already signed with another team (and even the trade block was rather dry), which left the Chiefs with a set of uninspired options to consider.
The top name left on the open market is likely Carlos Dunlap at this stage, and he’s proven to be a productive pass rusher as he ages. His presence on a young roster would also be a welcome shift for a team that lost several important starters at every level of the defense. But the Chiefs will likely have competition for him. It’s also curious that the Chiefs haven’t yet made any real overtures to sign him (or anyone else) yet.
How much do the Chiefs like Trey Flowers? Would Sheldon Richardson have anything to offer up front? What’s left in the tank for Jason Pierre-Paul? Younger options like Takk McKinley or Carl Nassib are still out there, as are aging guys like Everson Griffen. And if you’re rolling your eyes at this point, you’re likely not alone. They’re all free agents for more than one reason.