Here’s the KC Chiefs position group that commands GM Brett Veach’s focus this offseason
From evaluating free agency to preparing for the 2022 NFL Draft, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach enters this offseason with an important list of priorities.
Early in 2021, Veach set his sights on improving the offensive line, and the Chiefs opened the season with new starters among their front five, including three rookies.
Now, just days after the Chiefs suffered a crushing 27-24 loss in overtime to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game, the KC GM has his radar locked on the other side of the football.
“Knowing that we have a good offensive line in place, defensive line probably makes the most sense, and through the defensive backfield and what have you,” Veach said Tuesday. “I think the defensive side is one that we’ll probably focus on right off the bat.”
While the Chiefs will evaluate their linebackers and defensive backs, the defensive line might be their area of highest priority.
Defensive tackles Jarran Reed and Derrick Nnadi played the 2021 season in the final year of their respective contracts. The two combined for 27 starts on the interior of the defensive line this past season. And pass rushers Alex Okafor and Melvin Ingram are scheduled to become free agents at the start of the NFL’s new calendar year on March 16.
Ingram, acquired via a midseason trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, played the second half of the season with the Chiefs on a one-year deal. He appeared in nine regular-season games, making six starts and totaling 15 tackles, one sack and five quarterback hits in 346 defensive snaps.
But Ingram’s impact went beyond the box score. His presence enabled the Chiefs to move Chris Jones, who began the season playing left defensive end, back to his natural defensive tackle position.
“His leadership and his approach I think elevated everyone else’s game,” Veach said of Ingram. “I don’t think it was just a fluke that the defense kind of took off from there (after he was acquired).”
Veach said Ingram, who turns 33 on April 26, likely will be contemplating his future and considering his options. If the three-time Pro Bowler wants to return to Kansas City, the Chiefs are certainly open to that possibility.
“I think he’ll go through the process of taking some time and getting with his family and seeing where he wants to play and what makes sense for him,” Veach said. “But I do think if a guy like Melvin decides he wants to come back and play, I think that we would be at the top of his list and that’s something we’ll work to keep the dialogue open with.”
Defensive end Frank Clark has two years remaining on his current contract. He will earn a base salary of $19 million in 2022 and $20.5 million in 2023. His salary-cap hit is considerable.
Clark, who signed a five-year, $104 million contract in 2019, counts for $26.3 million against the Chiefs’ 2022 cap. They could restructure Clark’s contract to gain some cap relief or free up roughly $12.7 million in cap space if they release him, according to Over The Cap.
Jones has two years remaining on his contract. Mike Danna, Tershawn Wharton and Khalen Saunders are still playing on their respective rookie deals, and the Chiefs could reasonably expect more from 2021 fourth-round draft pick Joshua Kaindoh next season.
Bottom line for the Chiefs, the defensive line is of high priority because of the potential departure of players who contributed significantly in 2021.
“We’ll spend the offseason here getting things worked out,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday. “Whether it’s schemes or whether it’s the roster or whatever it might be, we’ll hit that evaluation period coming up now.
“I know Brett Veach stays on top of his game with that and is aware of all the different things that take place in an offseason, with free agency, with your own team, in the field and the draft. Right now, things don’t seem great because of the loss, but I think the future here is still bright. We look forward to moving on to the 2022 season and getting ourselves built back up after we take a step back here.”
This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
