Chiefs Roll Call: A New Look Defense and
What GM Brett Veach Does Next · Paul Pulley
While the Kansas City Chiefs offense is undergoing some major renovations of its own, I wanted to concentrate on the defense and see what is left to do in their remodel… as we all know, we are not rebuilding.
With the release of long time Chiefs stalwarts, linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali, in addition to the release of safety Ron Parker and the trading of cornerback Marcus Peters, the 2018 Kansas City Chiefs defense is going to have a whole new look when they hit the field this fall.
The Chiefs second best cornerback from last year, Terrance Mitchell, is now with the Cleveland Browns and we have a number of free agents that have not been re-signed, namely defensive lineman Bennie Logan and linebackers Keven Pierre-Louis and Ramik Wilson.
For our defense, GM Brett Veach has signed free agents linebacker Anthony Hitchens (from the Dallas Cowboys) and cornerback David Amerson (from the Oakland Raiders), plus traded for cornerback Kendall Fuller (from the Washington Redskins).
Veach has also retained some of his own players in defensive linemen Jarvis Jenkins and Rakeem Nunez-Roches, as well as linebacker Terrance Smith.
As a restricted free agent, RNR was given an original round tender, so it’s possible he could be offered a contract by another team that the Chiefs would not be wiling to match, but for now he is a Chief.
An Overview of the Chiefs Defensive Players
For the time being, the Chiefs starting corners are:
23-year-old Kendall Fuller– 5-11–198, drafted in the 3rd round in 2016 by the Washington Redskins, Fuller was acquired in a trade involving QB Alex Smith at the beginning of the 2018 league year.
26-year-old David Amerson– 6-1–205, drafted by the Redskins in the 2nd round in 2013. The Redskins placed Amerson on waivers in 2015 and he was picked up by the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders released him early this year and he signed a 1 year contract with the Chiefs. Amerson suffered a foot injury in week 7 last year and hasn’t played since, so ironically the last game he played was against the Chiefs.
25-year-old Steven Nelson– 5-11–194, selected by the Chiefs in round 3 of the 2015 draft, Nelson has been one of the better CBs the Chiefs have fielded the past two years.
The starting safeties appear to be:
29-year old Eric Berry– 6-0–212, drafted in the 1st round (5th overall) by the Chiefs in 2010. Despite having 3 injury and illness shortened seasons, Berry remains one of the elite safeties in the league.
28-year old Dan Sorenson– 6-2—208, has been with the Chiefs since being signed as an UDFA in 2014. Sorenson has developed into an excellent reserve safety and spot starter when needed.
24-year old Eric Murray– 5-11–199, drafted in the 4th round of 2016 by the Chiefs, Murray has seen considerable playing time and we are looking for him to continue to improve in his upcoming 3rd season.
The Chiefs currently have a number of young defensive backs on the roster heading into the off-season workouts. These include:
23-year-old Leon McQuay III– 6-2–185, a 2017 6th round draft pick; McQuay had a decent college career, but went through coaching changes that may have hampered his development. McQuay started week 17 in Denver and after getting knocked out of the game for a short time early, came back and finished with 4 tackles and 1 pass defensed.
27-year old Keith Reaser– 6-0–190, a 2014 5th round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers, Reaser spent most of 2017 on the Chiefs practice squad until playing week 17. He had 4 tackles, 2 passes defensed and a sack vs Denver.
27-year-old Sheldon Price– 6-2–198, a 2013 UDFA, Price has battled injuries throughout his career with the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens. He signed a Future/Reserve contract with Kansas City this year.
24-year old Devon Chappell– 6-2—199, signed a 3 year contract with the Chiefs as a 2017 UDFA, a safety from Oregon State. Injured during OTAs, Chappell spent last season on Injured Reserve.
24-year old Jordan Sterns– 5-11—198, signed a 3 year contract with the Chiefs as a 2017 UDFA, a safety from Oklahoma State, he had over 100 tackles in three consecutive seasons at OSU. Sterns spent last year on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list.
24-year old Ashton Lampkin– 6-0—189, a 2017 UDFA cornerback from Oklahoma State, he signed a 3 year contract with the Chiefs. Lampkin spent last season on Injured/Reserve after suffering an ACL injury in a pre-season game.
24-year old Will Redmond– 6-0—186, drafted in the 3rd round by the San Francisco 49ers, Redmond has battled injuries since his senior year at Mississippi State. Projected as a 1st round prospect in the 2016 draft, Redmond is intriguing if he can stay healthy. The Chiefs have him signed to a Reserve/Future contract.
25-year old Makinton Dorleant– 5-11—182, a 2016 UDFA for the Green Bay Packers, he was active for 4 games that season. Dorleant sat out all of 2017 after being released by the Packers last April. The Chiefs have signed him to a Reserve/Futures contract.
25-year old Prince Charles Iworah– 5-11—193, a 7th round draft pick by the 49ers, Iworah spent most of 2016 on the practice squad and 2017 on IR. He is another Reserve/Future signee by the Chiefs.
As you can see, there are quite a few young DBs on the team with 1 or 2 more likely to be added via the draft. If the Chiefs plan is truly an effort to get younger we should probably expect our reserve DBs to come from within rather than any more free agent signings.
The Defensive Line: What Do We Have?
We have returning defensive linemen starters:
24-year-old Chris Jones– 6-6—310, DE, drafted in the 2nd round of 2016 by the Chiefs, Jones can be disruptive along the front and should improve coming into his 3rd year.
29-year-old Allen Bailey– 6-3—288, DE, a 2011 3rd round draft pick by the Chiefs, although not flashy, Bailey has been steady and fairly productive as a starting DE.
Also, key reserves include… so far:
25-year-old Rakeem Nunez-Roches– 6-2—307, DE, drafted by the Chiefs in the 6th round in 2015. An excitable reserve player, RNRs playing time has increased over his first 3 years.
30-year-old Jarvis Jenkins– 6-4—300, DE, a 2nd round draft pick in 2011 by the Redskins. Starting his second full season with the Chiefs, maybe Jenkins will start to live up to his pre-draft expectations.
26-year old Xavier Williams– 6-4—311, JUST SIGNED YESTERDAY… Williams is a Kansas City, Missouri native, from Grandview, was signed as an UDFA in 2015 by the Arizona Cardinals. Williams played a reserve DT role for Arizona the past three years. A 2018 RFA, the Chiefs offered Williams a contract the Cardinals were unwilling to match.
If Bennie Logan or another NT are not signed, Williams will likely get the chance to compete for a starting role at that position.
Less experienced defensive linemen include:
25-year-old Justin Hamilton– 6-2—315, NT, a 2015 UDFA, Hamilton has bounced around the league, spending time on the practice squads of the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs signed Hamilton in December 2017 off of the Eagles practice squad. Hamilton played 45 snaps on defense week 17, recording one tackle and possibly should have gotten credit for ½ sack.
27-year-old Mike Purcell– 6-3—303, NT, a 2013 UDFA, Purcell played in several game for the 49ers through 2016, but similar to Hamilton, Purcell has been on the practice squad of several teams since. He is signed to a Reserve/Futures contract with the Chiefs.
25-year-old T. Y. McGill– 6-0—299, DT, McGill was a 2015 UDFA and is signed to a Reserve/Futures contract with Kansas City.
24-year-old Josh Augusta– 6-4—335, NT, signed by the New England Patriots as a UDFA in 2017, Augusta has signed a Reserve/Futures contract with the Chiefs.
Looking at this group, it’s hard not to project defensive linemen, especially nose tackle, as a good use of at least one of our early round draft picks.
The Chiefs Linebackers: Do We Really Need Help?
Starting outside linebackers should be:
29-year-old Justin Houston– 6-3—258, drafted by the Chiefs in round 3 of 2011, Houston has battled injuries the past few years, but finished 2017 strong, so we are expecting Houston to be at his best in 2018.
27-year-old Dee Ford– 6-2—252, a 1st round draft pick by the Chiefs, Ford has also battled injuries. Playing on the 5th year option in 2018, if Ford wants to continue his career in the NFL with a lucrative contract, this is the year he needs to show……….something.
Other OLBs with the Chiefs include:
31-year-old Frank Zombo– 6-3—254, a 2010 UDFA, Zombo has been with the Chiefs since 2013. A solid backup, it’s probably best if Zombo has more snaps on special teams than on defense.
24-year-old Tanoh Kpassagnon– 6-7—280, drafted in round 2 of 2017 by Kansas City, Kpass is a very raw player with tons of potential. With a full off season we should see plenty of improvement and increased playing time in 2018.
25-year-old Dadi Nicholas– 6-3—235, drafted in the 6th round of 2016 by the Chiefs, Nicholas has yet to see any playing time recovering from injuries.
24-year-old Tyrone Holmes– 6-2—253, was chosen by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 6th round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Tyrone Holmes is an intriguing prospect. Ransom Hawthorne compared him to Dee Ford and said, “Holmes is a significantly more fluid athlete [than Ford]. He posted better time in both the 3-cone drill and the shuttle.” To learn more about him I would suggest reading Ransom Hawthorne’s excellent article, posted on February 21st right here on ArrowheadOne called: Self Scouting: Chiefs OLB Tyrone Holmes.
The Chiefs inside linebackers include starters:
26-year-old Anthony Hitchens– 6-0, 235, drafted in the 4th round of 2014 by the Dallas Cowboys, at the time he was considered a “reach” pick. As a free agent, Hitchens signed a long-term contract with Kansas City in 2018. Playing mostly OLB in the 4-3 of Dallas, Hitchens might be even more productive as an ILB in the Chiefs 3-4.
24-year-old Reggie Ragland– 6-2—252, drafted in round 2 of 2016 by the Buffalo Bills, Ragland was traded to the Chiefs at the end of August last year. Coming into his 3rd year in the league and after having a full off-season with the Chiefs, we should expect to see some very good things from Ragland in 2018.
With our reserves Inside Linebackers being:
25-year-old Terrance Smith– 6-2, 235, signed by the Chiefs as an UDFA in 2016, Smith has worked his way off the practice squad to a reserve ILB and key special teamer, with Anthony Sherman the only Chief with more snaps on STs in 2017. As a starting LB in week 17 vs Denver, Smith recorded 6 tackles and an interception.
24-year-old Ukeme Eligwe– 6-2, 239, a 2017 round 5 draft pick by the Chiefs, Eligwe has played mostly special teams as a rookie, but had 3 tackles and a sack vs Denver in week 17.
We could start the season with this group of linebackers. Finding Houston’s eventual replacement is something that should happen asap, as he is approaching the dreaded 30-year old mark and is the Chiefs highest paid player. I think this will be Fords last year as a Chief. He will either play his way off the team or play his way into a contract we can’t afford.
With the Chiefs projected to currently have 10-12 million dollars of cap space, about half of that ($5.1M projected) will be needed for signing our 2018 draft picks.
There are usually injuries during training camp that may require bringing in a new player, plus there could be a player cut by another team that the Chiefs would want. Therefore, I’m not expecting Veach to sign any more free agents until closer to the start of the regular season (now, watch him sign someone tomorrow… just like he did yesterday after I wrote this piece).
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