With NFL free agency on the horizon next month, the Kansas City Chiefs will have a few tough decisions to make. OverTheCap is currently projecting the Chiefs to be an NFL-worst $54.7 million above the salary cap, making it interesting to see how general manager Brett Veach will navigate the financial turbulence.
For the Chiefs to re-sign any of their free agents, Veach will need to restructure some contracts while turning the page on others. That said, one player that Chiefs fans likely don’t want to see back with the team is veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel. Kansas City’s defensive line did not live up to expectations this season, thanks to injury and overall poor play.
Chiefs Should Think Twice About Re-Signing Mike Pennel
For those who don’t remember, the 34-year-old Pennel re-signed with the Chiefs last March on a one-year deal after playing in 20 combined games (seven starts) in the previous two years in Kansas City.
However, the Chiefs cut ties with Pennel at the end of the preseason, which didn’t make the veteran defender happy as he caused a stir on social media. That said, Pennel ended up on the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad before Week 1 of the regular season.
The ex-Chiefs defensive lineman was thrown immediately into the mix with the Bengals, playing in eight games. Pennel had 15 combined tackles and a tackle for loss as he played 24.6% of defensive snaps.
Pennel wasn’t playing much with the Bengals and was released following their Week 8 loss to the New York Jets. Earlier in October, Kansas City star defender Chris Jones made his feelings known about Pennel’s departure and how much he’s missed.
The Chiefs took Jones’ plea to heart as they suddenly brought back Pennel. The Chiefs needed more defensive line depth with rookie Omarr Norman-Lott suffering a torn ACL. However, it was clear through the first few games that Pennel returning to the Chiefs was a bad idea.
In eight games with the Chiefs, Pennel saw slightly more playing time (32.9 percent of defensive snaps), but it only amounted to a meager 11 combined tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, Pennel’s defensive grades for the 2025 season were 51.0 (pass rush) and 55.6 (run defense).
PFF grades aren't perfect, and they don't always tell a full story, but those marks being among Pennel's worst efforts can't be ignored. Now, all the blame shouldn’t fall on Pennel’s shoulders, as Derrick Nnadi didn’t play well in his return to K.C., and Mike Danna was a non-factor off the edge.
That said, the Chiefs are better off not considering a reunion with Pennel, instead using his roster spot for a younger defensive tackle, whether that’s in the draft or free agency.
This season proved that Kansas City needs to get younger and more explosive, especially on the defensive line in 2026. And a guy like Pennel just won’t cut it.