It's safe to say that the Kansas City Chiefs' pass rush has been a glaring concern throughout the 2025 NFL season. The unit hasn't generated much pressure outside of Chris Jones and George Karlaftis. But even then, the defensive duo has left much to be desired, highlighting the need for some serious help.
Throw in how badly Omarr Norman-Lott's absence has felt, and how the Chiefs ranked No. 21 in sack rate with a 6.05% percentage, per Team Reports, and it couldn't be clearer that it is time to take a risk.
Is free agent Carl Lawson, someone multiple contenders could have interest in, a responsible one? There's only one way for general manager Brett Veach to find out.
Chiefs Have Nothing to Lose with a Carl Lawson Risk
Lawson is a proven NFL pass rusher with 32 sacks in 90 career games under his belt. Having said that, he never quite found his groove with the Baltimore Ravens, leading to his recent release earlier this week. He recorded on tackle and a run stop across 26 snaps in his lone Ravens appearance (Week 13), according to Pro Football Focus.
Still, it was only last year that he had five sacks in 15 games with the Dallas Cowboys, showing that he still has plenty left in the tank.
Not far removed from being an expensive investment for the New York Jets, Lawson is the kind of gamble you can justify at this point in a lost season. He had his best season right before the injury with the Cincinnati Bengals, but had his second season right after returning from the injury. It also wouldn't break the bank to keep him as a warm body on the practice squad.
If a potential Lawson signing doesn't work out, there's no harm done — especially since he'd come off the books once the offseason begins. But if he can thrive in Kansas City, the Chiefs suddenly have a new pass rusher they can trust, potentially opening the door for him to run things back next season.
Given the Chiefs' defensive line play so far, there's no harm in trying something new. It'd be a great story if Lawson did join the team, helped turn the pass rush around, and helped Kansas City make some noise in the playoffs. For that alone, Veach needs to see if he can convince the ex-Auburn Tiger to join a team that can use his help more than anyone else.