KC Chiefs add to pass rush, re-sign versatile edge rusher in free agency | Report
Charles Omenihu hinted a few times this offseason that he’d like to remain with the Kansas City Chiefs.
On Thursday night, the defensive lineman got his wish, agreeing to re-sign with the team on a one-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The contract, Schefter said, could be worth up to $7 million with incentives.
Omenihu, 27, played the last two seasons with the Chiefs after signing a free-agent deal before the 2023 season. Following a six-game suspension, he posted seven sacks in 11 games that year before tearing his ACL in the team’s AFC Championship win against the Baltimore Ravens. That ailment kept him out until Week 12 this year.
Perhaps predictably following that recovery, Omenihu’s impact was limited once he returned in 2024. He had one sack in six regular-season games, then added another in the playoffs during the Divisional Round against the Houston Texans.
Omenihu gave some hints in previous months that KC was his desired location. Just a few days before NFL free agency opened — and when the Chiefs had exclusive negotiating rights with him — Omenihu tweeted about his worth while saying, “No matter what obstacles I had in front of me I always made an impact ALWAYS. Ain’t none changed about me as a player.”
Also, in a February interview with Kay Adams, Omenihu pushed back a bit when Adams said he was “not a Chief” because he didn’t have a new contract with the team.
“The new league year hasn’t started, so I’m still a Chief. Go Chiefs,” Omenihu said. “Chiefs Kingdom, I love y’all.”
KC locking in Omenihu helps with one of the team’s major depth issues.
The Chiefs are thin on the defensive line behind starters Chris Jones and George Karlaftis. Mike Danna and Felix Anudike-Uzomah return too, and the team also signed free agent Jerry Tillery to a one-year deal.
However, the Chiefs lost Tershawn Wharton (Carolina) and Derrick Nnadi (New York Jets) to other teams in free agency. Because of that, they could look to continue bolstering the D-line with an early draft pick next month.
Omenihu — at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds — remains an adaptable piece. He has the length that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo desires from his defensive lineman while also having the versatility to shift inside for late-down situations.
A sixth-year pro, Omenihu played previously for the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers.
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 10:43 PM.
