For weeks, the Kansas City Chiefs' running back room was a talking point for all the wrong reasons. Given their early struggles, it wasn't much of a surprise to see them tangled up in trade rumors for Breece Hall.
Fast forward to today, and that may no longer be the case. In fact, they might not be looking to address that position at all. According to ESPN insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler, Kansas City may not trade for a running back. Instead, they're looking to add more firepower to their defensive line:
“But I do think the Chiefs could add defensive linemen,” Fowler wrote. “They are depleted on the interior. “They have added defensive linemen in the past (Melvin Ingram in 2021 a prime example),” Graziano added. “That’s the type of move I could see.”
Considering that, some speculation about Calais Campbell has already flooded the internet, given that he's in the final year of his contract, and the Arizona Cardinals are sliding in the standings. Even so, their asking price might be a little steep for their star.
Chiefs Need to Pass on Pursuing Campbell to Sign Christian Wilkins
That's why Kansas City might be better off signing a proven veteran like Christian Wilkins instead of giving up assets to land Campbell or any other player. The Chiefs just lost rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott for the season with a torn ACL injury, and while they may already have a replacement in the building, Wilkins should be an upgrade.
The former Las Vegas Raiders star is more than familiar with the division and what Kansas City likes to do with Steve Spagnuolo at the helm. He'd also welcome a chance to join a Super Bowl contender after going unsigned in the offseason.
The Raiders' decision to release the former Clemson star was surprising, to say the least. The 29-year-old suffered a setback from a foot injury, but he was just one year into his four-year, $110 million contract. The initial belief from the franchise was that Wilkins would require another surgical procedure, and the lineman balked at that idea, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Ryan McFadden. This led to the Raiders voiding the remainder of his contract. Ultimately, the NFLPA filed a grievance on Wilkins' behalf.
While that whole situation will be figured out in due time, it leaves the door wide open for GM Brett Veach to make the most of this bizarre situation and swoop right in. Before his injury, Wilkins was a proven run-stopper. He has made 86 appearances (82 starts), logging 372 total tackles, 56 QB hits, 45 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, 19 passes defended, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Wilkins' health might be a bit of a concern, but he's certainly worth the risk, and money shouldn't be an issue at this point in the season. Of course, Campbell is a proven veteran with a long track record of success, but there's no point in giving up assets to acquire him when there's a more than capable player still up for grabs.