Derrick Nnadi returns to KC Chiefs for sixth season with team

The Kansas City Chiefs have brought back Derrick Nandi for a sixth season with the team.

The Kansas City Chiefs apparently like what they have working in the middle of the defensive line these days. Not only is the team expected to offer Chris Jones an extension some time soon, but veteran Derrick Nnadi has been signed for another season after hitting free agency.

Nnadi was originally a third-round pick for the Chiefs back in the 2018 NFL Draft, the lone product of a draft class that failed to produce anything else. He’s been a sound run-stuffer in the defensive interior for the last five years for the Chiefs and a familiar face in the team’s base defense.

That said, Nnadi’s usage has waned a bit in recent seasons. In 2019, he played in 54 percent of snaps, but his totals have fallen by a few percentage points each year since then—from 46 percent in 2020 to 34 percent in 2022.

The trajectory of diminishing snaps could mean that the Chiefs are bringing back Nnadi as security more than anything else. They know moving forward they can enter the season with a reliable performer who they know well, but the Chiefs also have flexibility in the draft if the right value falls to them.

Nnadi has played in 81 total games for the Chiefs, with 69 career starts, with 6 tackles for loss and 4 sacks in that span of time.