Kansas City Chiefs are completely rebuilding their defense for 2019

By Leigh Oleszczak | Mar 14, 2019

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 20: Eric Berry #29 and Justin Houston #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs are introduced before the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

This offseason has made it perfectly clear that the Kansas City Chiefs are tearing down their old defense and starting anew. What’s next for the Chiefs regarding their defense?

For those of you who weren’t happy with the Kansas City Chiefs‘ defense last season (I might as well assume that nearly everyone is saying “ME!”), you’re in luck. The team is making sure that last year’s defense isn’t the same one we’re watching in 2019.

While obviously some guys will remain on the team, the big name guys are no more in Kansas City. Those big name guys include Eric Berry, Dee Ford, and Justin Houston, all of whom have been either released or traded in the last four days.

Houston was the first to go, getting released by the organization on Sunday. Ford was traded to the 49ers late Tuesday night in exchange for a 2020 second round pick. Berry, who was the first of those three guys to join the organization, was the last to be let go, getting released as soon as the new league year began on Wednesday.

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None of these moves were shocking whatsoever. Houston and Berry both had massive contracts that put the Chiefs in cap hell and injuries took their toll on both men. Berry played just three regular season games after signing his huge deal while Houston struggled to stay healthy as well.

As for Ford, fans never took a shining to him, even after a 13 sack performance in 2018. He was slapped with the franchise tag, but it was still made public knowledge that the organization was hoping to trade him.

With those three guys out the door, what’s next for the Kansas City Chiefs on defense? Well, the biggest addition to the team has been Tyrann Mathieu, who spent the first five years of his career with the Cardinals and was a member of the Texans last year.

The Honey Badger instantly becomes the best player on the Chiefs defense (well, after Chris Jones) and will make the secondary a heck of a lot better. He has suffered some injuries over the years, but he played in all 16 games last season and is just 26 years old.

Hopefully the move to a 4-3 brings clearer roles for Tanoh Kpassagnon and Breeland Speaks, both of whom were forgotten about last year. Kpassagnon has been a bust so far (remember – he was a second round pick in 2017) while Speaks did next to nothing as a rookie last season.

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Those two finding their roles will be crucial for this defense moving forward. The Chiefs also have to find a true pass rusher, as they’ve traded both of their predominant edges from a season ago.

There’s still some decent names out there in free agency, but the draft is fast approaching as well. Expect KC to heavily address defense over these next few months.

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