6 Chiefs Already on the Chopping Block Before OTAs

4. Charles Omenihu, Defensive End

A fifth-round pick for the Houston Texans in 2019, Charles Omenihu was an intriguing prospect. The former Texas Longhorn was a powerful defensive end standing 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds. Still, it was hard to see exactly where he fit in the NFL since he wasn't quite big enough to play inside and his 4.92 speed suggested he didn't have the athleticism to be effective on the edge.

He proved he belonged once given a shot and had seven sacks in his first two seasons with the Texans. Omenihu was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 and recorded 4.5 sacks in 2022 before signing a two-year deal worth $16 million in Kansas City.

Omenihu started his career in K.C. by serving a six-game suspension but made up for that with 28 tackles and a career-high seven sacks in 11 games. He recorded another sack in the postseason but tore his ACL in the AFC Championship Game and might not be ready to start the 2024 season.

The Chiefs will lean on second-year defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah as the primary reserve defensive end while Omenihu is out. If the Kansas State product proves he's up to the task, the Chiefs could decide to part with Omenihu — which would save them more than $5.2 million.