KC Chiefs sign linebacker Drue Tranquill to one-year contract

The Kansas City Chiefs have added some linebacker depth with the addition of former Chargers defender Drue Tranquill.

The Kansas City Chiefs have made another move to further bolster the defense in free agency with the news that they’ve signed linebacker Drue Tranquill. NFL reporter Jordan Schultz has the terms of the year as a single-season contract.

Tranquill reportedly had five other teams vying for his services, but he chose the Chiefs.

The Chiefs are fairly familiar with Tranquill already given that he was a former fourth-round selection of the Los Angeles Chargers back in the 2019 NFL Draft. For his first three seasons, he was a spot starter and rotational defender, but he broke out last season with the Bolts with career marks in several categories including tackles (146), sacks (5), pass deflections (4), and his first career interception.

Tranquill had a 76.7 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus last year and gives the Chiefs a much better overall athlete and producer in coverage than Darius Harris, who was not tendered a contract offer despite being a restricted free agent. With Willie Gay Jr. and Nick Bolton as other base starters, Tranquill could slide in there and provide greater ceiling and depth while Leo Chenal continues to grow.

Together those four form the single strongest core of linebackers that have been in place since Brett Veach took over as general manager of the Chiefs.