The Kansas City Chiefs couldn’t complete a three-peat in Super Bowl LIX and their offseason has done little to console their loss. The Chiefs were able to keep top guard Trey Smith on the franchise tag but several players have departed Kansas City including Joe Thuney, DeAndre Hopkins, and Justin Reid.
One of the areas that was hit the hardest was along the defensive line. Tershawn Wharton found a new home with the Carolina Panthers on a three-year, $45 million contract, and the Chiefs do not appear close to signing Charles Omenihu or Marlon Tuipulotu.
It leaves the Chiefs' options limited until they are on the clock with the 31st overall pick in next month’s draft. And it may have to force Kansas City to bring back an uninspiring veteran to offset the recent losses.
Chiefs Need To Bring Back Mike Pennel For Defensive Line Depth
Mike Pennel hit the market when the Chiefs entered free agency and all signs pointed that the team was willing to let him walk. The Topeka, Kansas native was a specialist in stopping the run with a 62.4 Pro Football Focus grade in run coverage last season ,and he recorded a career-high three sacks while playing in all 17 games last season.
Pennel is a solid player. But at age 34, the Chiefs would probably like a younger option. Wharton could have been that player although he’s the inverse of Pennel at this stage of his career as a better pass-rusher than run-stopper. Nnandi was the lowest-graded player on the defense according to PFF and Tuipulotu only played 61 snaps with an overall grade of 47.9.
A cast like this should have the Chiefs looking toward free agency. But with expensive extensions coming for Smith and Trent McDuffie, their $27.6 million in cap space looks much smaller than it should be.
There also isn’t an obvious option to add for depth as Calais Campbell is the top available interior defender on the market. The 39-year-old was still effective, registering five sacks, five pass defenses, and a forced fumble with the Miami Dolphins last season. But Spotrac’s $7.1 million market value prices Campbell out of the Chiefs’ price range.
The good news is the Chiefs still have Chris Jones and signed Jerry Tillery to a one-year contract in free agency. But they still need good players behind them, which is a tall task even if they take a defensive tackle in the first round next month.
That could mean Pennel could return for another season in Kansas City and the Chiefs hope they strike gold in the draft.