Veteran edge players who could still be an option for Kansas City Chiefs
Edge Options With Ties To The Chiefs
Three of my top four free agent edge fits for the Chiefs are all players that have played for Kansas City before. These three players all make sense, but I'll go in order from the one that seems the most likely to the one that seems the least likely (despite how great it would be). Now that we've moved to players that I actually think KC should consider, I'll include their height, weight, age, sacks and snaps played last season, and their Pro Football Focus run grade and pass rush grade from last season.
- 6'6" - 285 pounds - 34 years old
- 4.0 sacks in 675 snaps played
- 67.9 PFF run defense grade
- 61.0 PFF pas rush grade
Dunlap was a solid rotational edge player for the Chiefs last season. He wasn't a standout or a liability, just a solid contributor. While I would personally like someone with a little more upside as a pass rusher, I think Dunlap is probably the most likely player to be added with Clark now off the table. He fits the Spagnuolo mold, is experienced in the system having been with the team last season, and shouldn't be expensive at his age.
- 6'2" - 247 pounds - 34 years old
- 6 sacks in 536 snaps played
- 66.0 PFF run defense grade
- 78.9 PFF pass rush grade
Ingram is my favorite former Chiefs option on this list. Not only does Ingram bring experience to the Chiefs system with him, but he also fits exactly what the team needs most, a veteran pass rusher. Ingram might be 34 years old, but he showed last season he can still win off the edge.
I wrote just last week that drafting BJ Thompson may mean Joe Cullen has more input on what type of players KC is considering at edge, and Ingram seems like he might be someone Cullen would enjoy having. Adding a veteran who can mentor KC's two first-round edge players and still add some juice off the edge seems like a perfect fit.
- 6'3" - 270 pounds - 34 years old
- 9.5 sacks in 423 snaps
- 66.4 PFF run defense grade
- 75.4 PFF pass rush grade
You could make an argument that Houston would be an even better addition than Ingram , but I just can't let my heart go there. Unfortunately, Houston left KC on poor terms and so it seems highly unlikely that he'd come back on a cheap veteran deal. If enough time has passed and there are enough new people in the organization that Houston would consider it, he'd be an amazing addition. Not only was he still able to notch 9.5 sacks as a rotational player, but his leadership would be highly appreciated as well.
While those three former Chiefs would all be fantastic additions, there are still some solid options out there that haven't played in K.C. before.