The Kansas City Chiefs' defense hasn't looked like the dominant unit fans have grown accustomed to seeing from Steve Spagnuolo to this point in the season—a big reason why has been the underwhelming play of the defensive line. Even Chris Jones hasn't looked like himself through the first six games of the season.
While the interior defensive line has been the bigger concern, the Chiefs could also use more depth and quality in their pass rush rotation. The team ranks middle of the pack in most pass rush metrics, and currently ranks as the 20th-best pass rushing team, per Pro Football Focus grades.
Fortunately for them, an intriguing addition just became available. On Friday, former Chiefs defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon was just released by the Chicago Bears and would be worth consideration for the Chiefs.
Chiefs Should Consider a Tanoh Kpassagnon Reunion
The 31-year-old defender hasn't been the player he was earlier in his career after being selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2017 draft. He became an important piece of Kansas City's defense, especially in his third and fourth years in the league, playing a big role in the Super Bowl LIV win. Most Chiefs fans remember him from his two sacks on Ryan Tannehill in the AFC Championship Game against the Titans in 2019.
Yet, he has still been playing at a high enough level to be a depth option in the pass rush rotation. In four games this season, he has a sack, two QB hits, and a tackle for loss in only 89 defensive snaps. He was let go to make room for the return of the younger, higher-upside Austin Booker from the injured reserve list. That production should be enough to earn him another roster spot elsewhere, and the Chiefs should be among the interested teams.
George Karlaftis has 3.5 sacks and Charles Omenihu has 2.0 sacks for the season. No other Chiefs defensive end has a sack through six games. Only Karlaftis ranks in the top half of the position in PFF defensive grades in the Chiefs' pass rush rotation. It's not like Kpassagnon will change the fate of this defense on his own, but good teams can never have enough competent pass rushers. Bringing him in, perhaps initially for a practice squad spot, would be a worthy flier for the Chiefs. Whether GM Brett Veach and Andy Reid agree remains to be seen.