Chiefs: Dealing With Defensive End Stability

In most cases, when an NFL team is having conversations about, “Defensive End” stability… they’re revealing that their team is having “Defensive Instability” issues. It’s not just a play on words, it’s a sad state of affairs because if you can’t consistently pressure the opposing quarterback, your coverage unit and linebacker scheme is thrown into turmoil. With the Kansas City Chiefs needing to have this conversation — which everyone and their grandma’s podcast seems to be having right now– as a result of their once sturdy DE, who might be headed for jail time, and at the minimum, NFL suspension, we all want to know what’s going on in the planning rooms at One Arrowhead Way and what measure will they be taking to deal with this eventuality.

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There are basically three places a replacement for our “starting” defensive end could come from: 1) on the roster, 2) from Free Agency or 3) via trade. Let’s take a look at each.

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One: Defensive Ends On the Roster

Here’s a look at the selection of DE’s the Chiefs currently have on their roster:

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Taco Charlton

Charlton was a first round pick, 28th overall, in 2017 for the Dallas Cowboys out of Michigan. He was the 6th rated edge rusher in that draft but hasn’t nearly lived up to any of that projection. He has 11 sacks in four seasons in the NFL, with a total of 1,286 total defensive snaps. While he did look good for K.C. when he was on the field last year (90 snaps), his total of 12 games started over his first 4 years in the league likely tells us all we need to know. Could he break out? Yes, but at this point, Steve Spagnuolo is not going to count on him to be Frank Clark permanent replacement.

Mike Danna

Another Michigan product surprised many with his positive first year performance in 2020, when he was taken by the Chiefs in the 5th round (177th overall). His 2.5 sacks on 334 snaps is not bad, but he’s thought of more as a run stopping, edge setting, DE. If he develops more of a pass rush, he could have some upside.

Austin Edwards

In February, the Chiefs signed Edwards to a Reserve/Future contract. He was signed as a UDFA by the Falcons after last year’s draft out of Ferris State, a Division II school. At 6-foot-5 and 280 lbs., he has the size that Spagnuolo loves. In his 13 games as a Senior, he had 10.5 sacks and 64 tackles. While he was good enough for the Falcons to protect him last season, Veach signed him away when he could, plus Edwards was Defensive Player of the Year as a Senior in his conference. Still, I see him as developmental. However, please don’t tell him he can’t make it… or you’ll have to tell Tershawn Wharton the same thing.

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Demone Harris

Harris is a fourth year player who was taken as a UDFA by Tampa Bay in 2018 and also spent time on the Ravens Practice Squad. He played his college ball at Buffalo where he had all of 7.5 sacks in 35 games played over three years. If anything, he’s a developmental player and who can say if he has upside? He stands 6-foot-4, 270 lbs. so he has some size, but until we see if he can seize the position Clark will eventually be vacating, who’s to say.

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Malik Herring

The Chiefs signed Herring as a UDFA earlier this year, he’s coming off of an injury and will likely take 2021 as a red-shirt season (meaning, he’ll end up on IR this year). It’s hard to see Herring entering the fray this season… when the Chiefs need a guy to step up and be “that guy.”

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Joshua Kaindoh

“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up…” seems to be the mantra for some of Brett Veach’s draft picks. IOW, there was a reason why these players fell as low as they did. The reason to take them is… while it’s a risk, some of those risks may work out and you end up with the upside on those player. Travis Kelce is one such player. So is Tyreek Hill. I’m not saying Joshua Kaindoh will turn into an All Pro like those gentlemen, but… he could. Even if that were the case, it’s rare beyond rare that a rookie DE who wasn’t taken int he top five of a draft, balls out in his rookie year. So, even if Kaindoh gets some of Clark’s snaps, his best days are likely down the road.

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Tim Ward

Ward has been with K.C. sine May of 2019, when the Chiefs signed him as a UDFA. He was active last year and started in Week 17 vs the Chargers when the starters sat. He had 57 defensive snaps in that game and ended up with 1 sack, 2 QB Hits, a tackle for a loss and 5 total tackles (00:29).

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It’s this performance that has some Chiefs fans excited about his future. One of those fans is Craig Stout over at ArrowheadPride:

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Two: Defensive Ends in Free Agency

Melvin Ingram

Those who want the Chiefs to sign a free agent DE, usually start with Melvin Ingram, or Justin Houston. I’ve often said the Chiefs should go out and get Melvin Ingram. I know, I know, I’ve said he may not be worth it because of his non-production in recent years. However, even when K.C. could count on Frank Clark being around for every snaps in 2021, I wanted Ingram for one reason mostly: he has cred. Other team’s DC’s would have to do some extra planning to deal with a pass rush that had Ingram, Chris Jones, Jarran Reed, and Frank Clark. So, even if Ingram is mostly spent, he should be able to still provide that dangerous threat that other teams — and their DC’s — must respect.

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Everson Griffen

While the same can be said for Everson Griffen, as it can be for Ingram, Griffen has 80+ career sacks and Ingram has but 49. However, Ingram just turned 32 but Griffen will be 34 later this year. For those thinking Griffen is headed back to the Vikings, he may have burned his bridges there too soon. He posted tweets this offseason that he think Vikes QB, Kirk Cousins is an “A$$” so, while that might close the door there, it could be an opportunity for Veach… if he thinks Griffen can be a positive locker-room guy.

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Justin Houston

There’s an old tune that goes: “Lessons’ learned are like bridges burned, you only need to cross them but once….” and I think Andy Reid may have already been over that bridge over troubled waters. I’m not saying it can not happen… it just seems like, a bridge too far. Okay, okay, I’ll stop it. For now.

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Three: Trading For a Defensive End

Several events must happen first before a trade could take place. A) the Chiefs and the league must divest themselves of Frank Clark, and sever all relationship, B) that includes a financial benefit to the Chiefs by showing Clark has broken his contract and the Chiefs would then owe him nothing more, C) K.C. would have to identify trade-able players who could help another teams. Those mentioned before include: LDT, Austin Blythe (everyone in the league is looking for good offensive linemen), or a WR like Mecole Hardman. Many teams still want to find a deep threat, why not take one off of the Chiefs hands, who are not only loaded at WR, but not even sure Hardman will work out in the future. Many criticize the possibility of giving away a guy with Hardman’s speed, but if it could net a serious pass rusher, I’d like to see it happen.

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The options don’t look great at this point. While we can hope the Frank Clark situation doesn’t elevate during this coming season, that may just end up as extreme wishful thinking, because if Clark was recently charged for gun possession in March, you know a second charge is coming for the uzi-palooza event in June. While its hard ot see K.C. making a move before that ever happens, they may be much better served by making a move now, instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop. One that is sure to drop.

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To put a cherry on top, Clark hasn’t been the picture of a perfect pass rusher while in K.C., even if you consider his success in the 2019 post season, or not.

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Part of the defensive end stability issue is that so many players have moved on from the team over the past three offseasons: Justin Houston, Dee Ford, Alex Okafor, Emmanuel Ogbah, Breeland Speaks, and Tanoh Kpassagnon. Boy, we could sure use a Tamba Hali type guy right now. Also, I don’t want to consider Chris Jones as “the” answer at defensive end, because there’s no guarantee that if he’s moved outside on a permanent basis that he’d be effective. Then, you end up ruining two position: DE and DT. What do you think? Got any great defensive end stability suggestions?

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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