The Kansas City Chiefs enter Week 2 in a precarious position, as a 0-2 start to the regular season is a distinct possibility. Despite having big names on both sides of the ball, Kansas City saw its defense carved up by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in Week 1 and faces another tough test this Sunday with Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles coming to town.
One of the biggest issues facing the Chiefs on the defensive side of the ball is the pass rush. This was known entering the season and was evident this past Friday night when Kansas City lost to Los Angeles in Brazil. While Chris Jones is one of the best at his position in the game today, and George Karlaftis is no slouch in his own right, there is only so much that the two defensive linemen can do to put pressure on opposing QBs.
This is why the defending AFC champions must take advantage of the opportunity at its doorstep now that the Dallas Cowboys have passed on signing veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney to a contract, according to NFL insider Josina Anderson.
Cowboys' Jadeveon Clowney Fail Should be Wake-Up Call for Chiefs
Clowney's best days are behind him, but there is still something he is capable of doing at a high level, and that is rushing the quarterback. Over the past two seasons, Clowney has recorded 15 total sacks. If you want to take it back even further, the former No. 1 overall pick has brought down the opposing QB a total of 26 times. For a team in need of help rushing the passer, Kansas City could do a whole lot worse than Clowney.
This is why Wednesday's events involving Clowney and the Cowboys should be a wake-up call for the Chiefs. While the former South Carolina Gamecocks star might not have been the right fit for what Dallas was looking for, all it proves is that other franchises are intrigued by the idea of adding Clowney to the fold. This means Kansas City has no time to waste if it is serious about addressing its pass rush.
Considering that the Chiefs have every intention of challenging for an AFC title again this season, finding a veteran pass rusher who could simply be plugged into the rotation and allowed to get after the opposing quarterback makes much more sense than attempting to bring along a younger, less experienced player while maintaining those lofty team goals.
With the Philadelphia Eagles signing Za'Darius Smith and the Green Bay Packers acquiring Micah Parsons before the season started, it's clear that the top NFL teams know the value that a standout disruptor can bring. The Chiefs shouldn't be any different, and signing Clowney would prove that.
Whether or not Kansas City's front office agrees is a different story. Chiefs fans will have to wait and see how the team addresses this issue, as something must be done sooner rather than later if Week 1 was any indication of things to come.