KC Chiefs: Top five defensive players heading into 2019 training camp

Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid, left, and General Manager Brett Veach, right, introduce safety Tyrann Mathieu in the Stram Theater in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, March 14, 2019. The Chiefs signed Mathieu to a three-year deal reportedly worth $42 million. (Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images) /

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With head coach Andy Reid, left, and general manager Brett Veach, right, the Kansas City Chiefs introduce Frank Clark, former Seattle Seahawks defensive end, at the Stram Theatre at the team’s training facility in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, April 26, 2019. (Jill Toyoshiba/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images) /

The KC Chiefs enter the 2019 training camp with a lot of hype surrounding them. Who are the five best defensive players on the Chiefs roster heading into training camp?

Training camp is right around the corner and there is a lot to be excited about. Seeing how the Kansas City Chiefs offense is going to look with some new faces, new coaches and a lot of changes on the defensive side of things.

New Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is bringing a brand new defense compared to what was in the past. The Chiefs cut two of the staples in the past defenses in Eric Berry and Justin Houston while also trading Dee Ford. That leaves a nice gap in terms of who the best players on the defense are.

Let’s look at the five best players on the defensive side of the ball before camp begins. These are not going to be in any particular order because we are going based off of what said players did last year in the pros and/or in college for rookie(s).

FRANK CLARK

Frank Clark was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks in a trade over the offseason. The Chiefs had just cut eight-year pro Justin Houston and traded Dee Ford to the 49ers, so there was a definite need at pass rusher.

Clark ranked tenth in pressures from the EDGE position per Pro Football Focus, he was sixth in total sacks and had an overall grade of 77.4 per PFF that was good for the 18th best EDGE out of those that qualified.

Clark gives the Chiefs someone who has played in a 43 defense in the pros and could help incumbent’s Breeland Speaks and Tanoh Kpassagnon transition. Sacks weren’t an issue for the Chiefs last season, where they were tied with the Steelers for first with 52.

This won’t be a problem this season, especially with the next player returning from a fantastic third year.

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