The KC Star’s Terez Paylor is at the Senior Bowl this week and I read his first dispatch from Mobile, Alabama. Terez highlights the pass rusher group as the strongest position and says there’s no shortage of pass rushers in this year’s draft.
It makes me wonder: Would the Chiefs take a pass rusher?
It’s still early, obviously. Terez would tell you that, too. What we believe today in January won’t be the same as what we believe in April. We don’t know the exact players who will be there, especially with the Chiefs drafting 27th this year.
What we do know is the Chiefs current pass rusher situation. It’s ... uncertain. The Chiefs have bodies there and some real potential but there are question marks with each.
Justin Houston has missed chunks of the past two seasons with this knee injury. I’m done assuming ACL players will be back at full health when the Chiefs say they will. It’s all a crap shoot to me.
Dee Ford is entering the final year of his contract. He did show flashes with 10 sacks in the first half of the season. Is that enough? The franchise tag next year will likely be pushing $15 million or more. I have no idea what a contract for Dee Ford looks like. So many factors at play, including the fact he was almost invisible his first two years.
Tamba Hali wants to play four more years. Frankly, I would be surprised if he played two more years. In the Chiefs biggest game at Arrowhead in 13 years, Tamba played seven snaps. Does that sound like a player who’s integral to the future pass rush? It doesn’t to me.