The Future of the Chiefs Defense

The Future of the Chiefs Defense – riding with what you have has not worked for Andy Reid when it comes to his defense the past two seasons. Now, he has a unit, and the coaches, to make a solid run at a championship this season and seasons to come. So, how should the Chiefs handle this defense in the future: let it ride… or make wholesale changes once again?

The best approach to this might be to look at each position, player by player:

Defensive Ends:

Frank Clark – (age 26) Clark has played in 11 of the Chiefs 13 games this season and has produced 1 sack in his first 6 games and then put up 5 sacks in his last five game. It’s that one-sack-per-game kind of production we have been expecting from Clark. Clark signed a 5-year deal and is still in the first year of a $104 million contract. He’s going nowhere for the next two years.

Alex Okafor – (age 28) Okafor has appeared in 7 of the Chiefs 13 games this season producing 4 sacks. When he’s been healthy, he has been an above average contributor pitching in 20 tackles as well. He’s on a 3-year deal and will likely be given another year before he’s considered a player to be moved.

Emmanuel Ogbah – (age 26) Ogbah has been a pleasant surprise this year, especially with Clark absent early on. He’s appeared in 10 of 13 games with 5.5 sacks and 32 tackles. He may have a torn pectoral muscle and currently is on IR, but he needs to be re-signed by the Chiefs.

Tanoh Kpassagnon – (age 25) Kpass has appeared in 10 of 13 games so far and has 4 sacks with 26 tackles. He’s still on the 3rd year of his 4-year rookie deal but he’s young and having the best year of his career in Spags system. He could be a future starter plus his ability to block kicks (at 6-foot-7) is great so he needs to be re-signed as well.

Defensive Line Interior:

Chris Jones – (age 25) Jones has appeared in 10 out of 13 games in 2019 with 7 sacks and 30 tackles including 5 sacks in his last 5 games. Everyone knows that Jones is among the elite of the NFL defensive interior (except all-pro voters apparently). He’s coming off of two excellent seasons, is still a young-un at at the end of his rookie deal, and needs to be re-signed (if possible, but is now likely looking at big bucks in Free Agency).

Derrick Nnadi – (age 23) Nnadi is in his second year of his rookie deal. He’s had 44 tackles and one sack. He’s developing well and gives the Chiefs a sturdy foundation up front.

Khalen Saunders – (age 23) Saunders is a rookie and coming along nicely, showing he can learn and be taught. He’s been in on 28.4% of the defensive snaps this season and produced 19 tackles and one sack, in nine games.

Mike Pennel – (age 28) Pennel has been the surprise of the season along the defensive front. His ability to stop the run has made a big difference for the Chiefs. A mid-season signing by GM Brett Veach, Pennel has played in 5 games and produced 14 tackles and one sack. Not bad for playing on 12.1% of all the Chiefs defensive snaps this year. He’s only signed through the rest of this season so I’d hope he’s given an extension asap.

This core group of Defensive Linemen is the strength of this team right now. As long as they stay focused on stopping the run first, the Chiefs could go all the way this year, but this unit also gives the team a bright future moving forward.

The Linebackers:

Damien Wilson – (age 26) Wilson has arguably been the Chiefs best linebacker at a position that has continued to have holes this year. He leads the defense in tackles, snaps, and also has one and a half sacks. His contract goes through next season, 2020. He was a backup in Dallas mainly but here he’s developing well in Spags system.

Anthony Hitchens – (age 27) Hitchens has been a disappointment in my book. He has 69 tackles this year with 2 sacks to his name and he may be better this season, but the linebacker position is still the weakness of this defense. His contract goes through 2022, so if Veach can move him this offseason, that would be advisable (but he’ll probably have to wait another year).

Reggie Ragland – (age 26) Ragland has been good, when he’s been on the field, which has only been 21.9% of the defensive snaps. He’s appeared in 10 games this year with 26 tackles and 1 sack. He’s 26 and not signed beyond this year. The writing seems to be on the wall for RagMan and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go elsewhere and excel.

Ben Niemann – (age 24) Niemann has played on 35% of the Chiefs snaps this year and been in on 43 tackles. As a UDFA in 2018 Niemann has played well… as an NFL Linebackers… not as well as he needs to play to stick around.

Dorian O’Daniel – (age 23) O’Daniel hasn’t played on single defensive snap in 2019. That will likely change over the last three games so Spags can evaluate him as a potential contributor in 2020. However, he’s not been given time on the field for some reason. That doesn’t not bode well for his future at a position where the Chiefs need to get better this offseason.

The Cornerbacks:

Charvarius Ward – (age 23) he’s still ascending but already very good. Signed through 2020.
Bashaud Breeland – (age 27) inconsistent but able to make big plays. Contract ends this year.
Rashad Fenton – (age 22) much more than Veach had bargained for. An ascending rookie. Rookie deal goes through 2022.
Kendall Fuller – (age 24) a disappointment to me, but able to make plays when called upon. Contract ends this year.
Morris Claiborne – (age 29) capable of much more than we’ve been shown. Contract ends this year.

The concern here is that of all the CBs, only Ward and Fenton have contracts that extend beyond this season.

Defensive Backs:

Tyrann Mathieu – (age 27) excellent play, excellent leader. Contract is through 2021.
Juan Thornhill – (age 24) following in Mathieu’s shoes. Very good year. A rookie still on his rookie deal.
Dan Sorensen – (age 29) vet very good in the box and has solid coverage skills. Contract extends through 2020 and he’s likely to play out his contract. This Safety unit has been a strength like the DL.
Armani Watts – (age 23) an very good Safety in the making. Great hitter. Needs more snaps. Second year player tied up through 2021.
Jordan Lucas – (age 26) solid when called upon. Contract does not extend beyond this season.

Ever since Derrick Johnson left following the 2017 season, I’ve been expecting the Chiefs to sign or draft a top level Linebacker to replace him. Brett Veach may have believed that Anthony Hitchens was that guy. However, that has not materialized and so hopefully, this is the season the Chiefs go get their man… whoever that might be.

With only two cornerbacks under contract for next year, it also appears were in for a show as Veach goes out to find the necessary pieces to bring Steve Spagnuolo the necessary pieces to continue to build on what they’ve accomplished this year. Re-signing a couple of the players now on the squad seems likely, but Kendall Fuller may not be one of them.

For a defense currently ranked 20th overall and 12 against the pass with an improving rush defense, the future’s looking bright. We haven’t reached the top ten yet, as some have been predicting — by year’s end — but there’s still time to improve this year. Plus, over the next couple of seasons things are looking up, up, up. 

What do you think? What will Brett Veach need to do to help this defense continue to grow in 2020?

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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