KC Chiefs offered Melvin Ingram a UFA tender. Here’s one advantage to that, GM says
The Kansas City Chiefs have offered defensive end Melvin Ingram an unrestricted free-agent tender, and according to Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, the move has one significant benefit as the team continues to pursue him for next season.
Ingram, who joined the Chiefs following a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, solidified that position a season ago. In nine regular-season games for KC, he had 15 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble, while ranking 13th for the season among all edge rushers based on Pro Football Focus’ grading system.
The unrestricted free-agent (UFA) tender makes it so that if Ingram signs with another team before July 22 or the start of training camp, the Chiefs would be in line for a compensatory draft pick. If he fails to sign before that date, KC would have exclusive rights to him at 10% higher than his 2021 salary, which would be $4.4 million.
Veach said making the UFA tender to Ingram was an idea the team had discussed the last few weeks. Largely, he envisioned it keeping the two parties in touch.
“I think what this UFA tender does is, it allows us the ability to communicate and not have either him or his agent do something without us being in the mix. And I think that’s what we want to do,” Veach said. “We don’t know where this is going to go. I can say that we would love to have him back, and it would make sense for us. But regardless, I think now it at least allows us a chance to have dialogue with them before they decide to do anything, if they decide to do something somewhere else.”
Veach said he didn’t believe that Ingram was pressing to make a decision, though the Chiefs had maintained contact with his agent. Ingram, 33, will be entering his 10th NFL season.
“Melvin’s a guy, he’s played a lot of football. He’s accomplished a lot. And I don’t think he’s in a rush,” Veach said. “And we knew that when the free-agency period started that he wouldn’t be in a rush — that he would take his time.”
Returners Frank Clark and Mike Danna, along with first-round draft pick George Karlaftis, project as the Chiefs’ top defensive ends next season should Ingram not return.
This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 4:39 PM.
