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The Kansas City Chiefs have added defensive end Ropati Pitoitua to the roster this evening. Pitoitua was a New York Jet for the last four seasons after going undrafted in 2008. Josh Looney originally had the news.
It's tempting to draw hard conclusions from any roster signing and defensive linemen are no different. This is a signing for depth, in May, that happens across the league every year. Romeo Crennel will not be molding any defensive strategy around Ropati Pitoitua. It's entirely possible Pitoitua does not make the Chiefs roster come September.
Back in February, Gang Green Nation asked if Pitoitua should stay or go:
Pitoitua had 19 tackles on the season. He seldom makes plays that stand out. He does the dirty work, holding the point of attack and tying up blockers to keep the playmakers behind him clean. Over the years, the coaching staff has gotten the 26 year old to play with more consistent technique. He has improved. A guy as tall as Ropati can sometimes allow blockers to get a base underneath him to push him back, but that has happened less and less.
Again, this describes a classic off season depth signing. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.