Kansas City Chiefs: Midterm grades for 2019 season

Defensive Line

An under-the-radar free-agent signing in the offseason, Alex Okafor has been a steady presence along the defensive line all season. Since missing the Colts game, he’s resurfaced with two sacks and five quarterback hits with one forced fumble.

Another offseason acquisition overshadowed by bigger names, Emmanuel Ogbah has played an increasing role throughout the season, topping off with playing 90% of the defensive snaps against Green Bay. He has a sack in consecutive games to go with four quarterback hits and one pass defended.

Arguably the team’s biggest land in the offseason, Frank Clark‘s been merely meh through the season’s first half. He collected two sacks against the Broncos, but has just one more on the season. He missed the Green Bay game due to a neck injury.

The former second-rounder out of Villanova sacked Rodgers twice on Sunday Night Football to give him three on the year. In the past two games, he’s played nearly 76% and 74% of the defensive snaps. There’s hope yet for Tanoh Kpassagnon.

He played less than half the snaps against the Colts, and Chiefs fans haven’t seen him since. A fierce competitor, he was the best part of the defense in the season’s first quarter. When he returns, he’ll improve the unit that’s been gelling in his absence.

While the stats may not show it, Derrick Nnadi is playing better as the season progresses, especially in place of the injured Jones and Xavier Williams, who’s been placed on IR. The 6’1″, 312-pounder is holding his own on the frontlines.

The aforementioned injuries have also opened the door for Khalen Saunders, the Chiefs third-round pick in 2019 out of Western Illinois. His snap counts have varied between 40% and 67%, but he’s making his presence felt, as evidenced by his first-career sack on a scrambling Rodgers.