Chiefs Free Agent Focus: OLB Trent Murphy

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Chiefs Free Agent Focus: OLB Trent Murphy

As we all know, Outside Linebacker (OLB) is one of the biggest weaknesses we, the fans, see on the Kansas City Chiefs. I think a free agent acquisition is a must, but we need to do so without breaking the bank. Nose Tackle is another position that needs addressed but I just don’t see a NT that is worth a large contract.

Nose Tackle Now or Later?

A few days ago, I made a comment about signing DE Muhammad Wilkerson. Now, if that were to happen, I believe we could get by this year with a lesser NT. We have Justin Hamilton (DT who signed when D. Ford went to IR) and Josh Augusta (signed to a reserve-futures deal) on the team now. I don’t know that either one of them will turn out to be good enough and so we might go after someone like Phil Taylor that won’t be too expensive. Plus, with the amount of time that DC Bob Sutton spends in sub-sets, having only two DL on the field, devalues the NT position for the Chiefs. By going cheap at a couple positions, we can carry over a little cap money and actually start 2019 in the black, and if we still need a NT, we could go after Eddie Goldman or maybe a Carl Davis, younger guys. A better bet would be if we can find a good one in the draft.

Go Get an Outside Linebacker Now

Now, back to OLB, without a first round pick, drafting one that will produce in 2018 would be almost miraculous. Again, I don’t want to break the bank, which brings us to Trent Murphy. Murphy is from the 2014 draft class — the same one as Ford — he goes 6-foot-5 and weighs 260-ish lbs. He has long arms and large hands, and some comments from his draft profile say he is: not explosive but relentless and has an outstanding motor. He uses his hands well, is tough, smart, hardworking and is a good leader. Murphy had an ACL in pre-season and spent 2017 on Injured Reserve so, we only have his first three years of stats.

Some Trent Murphy Comparisons

Here, I compare Trent Murphy to a few other random DE/OLB from the 2014 draft, but all either 1st or 2^nd-rounders. Since Murphy had no stats in 2017, I omitted the ’17 stats from the rest and just used their first three years production. I did not take any missed time due to injury into account.

Note: stats are from NFL.com

I included Mack to show the crème de la crème, and to show why the Raiders will probably be making him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL within the next year or so.

I also included Collins (2013 draft) because Cleveland signed him to a 4-Y/$50M contract last year.

As Trent Murphy just turned 27… and assuming he checks out medically… and since pass rushers are always at a premium: I don’t think he, nor his agent, would settle for a one year prove-it deal.

Coming off a season ending injury, he won’t command top money either. So, we come to what is he worth. Coming off an injury, it would be easy to add incentives to this kind of deal, but to keep it simple, I am thinking a 4-year deal for $33.5M with a $6M signing bonus and $17M guaranteed. A simple contract could look something like this.

In 2018, we would have a cap hit of $5.5M, which is $3+ million less than Dee Ford. This kind of contract structure would be very easy to walk away from after the second year if he doesn’t work out or if the Chiefs are able to draft a better alternative.

I believe that with Justin Houston being fully healthy, the addition of Trent Murphy, the continued emergence of Tanoh Kpassagnon, and keeping Frank Zombo for spot relief duty… and our OLB group would be much improved from 2017. What do you think?

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