FanPost

KC Chiefs: Roster Breakdown (Defense)



Here is where the big arguments will probably occur since we have more problems on defense than offense. Many have written that we are in a rebuilding year because of Mahomes becoming a starter and us gutting our defense. Mahomes will have a MVP run and let us not pretend that our defense did well last year - almost anything will be an improvement. Veach has made it known that we will be getting younger and cheaper on defense so I am not expecting many if any big names to be added. We could add as many as five players as potential starters in the first four rounds of the draft. Here is the breakdown.

Defensive Line - Allen Bailey, Chris Jones, Justin Hamilton, T Y McGill, Mike Purcell, Josh Augusta. Four of our lineman are free agents - Logan, RNR, Jarvis Jenkins, and Stefan Charles. Certainly appears that we will let Logan walk due to his salary but believe we will make an effort to resign RNR. Jenkins and Charles would be cheap options but both have approached 30 so not a long term solution. Many are clamoring for Richardson and some for Wilkerson but neither would be cheap. My first thought is about Hamilton and if he is good enough to be a starting NT. He made some plays in the Denver game and this could be a strong possibility. If we had Bailey (who could be cut due to salary but we probably will hang on to him due to our lack of depth), Jones, Hamilton, and RNR, there would be two spots available on the roster. I am positive that we will draft one but few rookies make a huge impact on the line. That leaves one spot - Jenkins is the safest option but we might find a diamond in the rough with one of the practice players. Augusta has nice measurables at 6' 4" and 330+ lbs. Cheap free agency options are there so that could be another route we take. Sutton has went with a four man rotation on the defensive line (this is one of my biggest issues with him) so we may not add anyone. KPASS might be our third down defensive end - maybe even get more snaps on the line. KPASS and Jones would be a good combo for a third down pass rush on the line. We do get outmuscled on the line and play two linemen way too often and we are soft against the run - especially up the middle. A dominant NT is imperative to fix this problem. Tim Settle is a player that could be added - I think Settle and Hamilton could make a decent combo at NT. We can also scheme better as Football 101 dictates that run blitzes up the middle can help a lesser NT - can open it up for the big play but can turn constant four to six yard gains into one or two yard gains or, quite often, a loss of yardage.

Inside Linebackers - Reggie Ragland, Ukeme Eligwe, Terrance Smith. DJ is gone and KPL and Ramik Wilson are free agents. I like the progression of Ragland and hope he continues his role as a thumper. The Chiefs do need to determine who will be starting next to him. KPL would be a cheap resign but is, at best, an average starter. Smith was the first that we resigned but I think the Chiefs view him more as depth and for special teams than a potential starter. This boils down to whether the Chiefs are ready to commit to Eligwe as the starter next to Ragland. He played out of position in the Denver game so hard to tell what he might do at inside linebacker. Every inside linebacker that we have a chance to get in the draft has questions - Could be a good starter or perhaps the next Ramik Wilson. I like Darius Leonard but cannot guarantee that he is the solution. I would like to think that the Chiefs are ready to move forward with Eligwe and believe that he is the answer - he was a wasted draft pick if he is not. A high draft pick here signals that they do not believe in Eligwe. Who is a good, young, and cheap inside linebacker in free agency that can play both the pass and run? My gut instinct is that they make this position a priority based on the fact that Eligwe never beat out KPL or DJ for playing time and was played out of position in the last game - do not think you do this if you believe he is the future on the inside.

Outside Linebackers - Justin Houston, Dee Ford, KPASS, Frank Zombo, Dadi Nicolas, Tyrone Holmes. Tamba will be gone soon and it looks like we have one more year of Dee Ford. Houston is a beast that is sadly used in a predictable manner. Ford is overrated but is sadly our second best pass rusher. The progression of KPASS will determine future moves - Are the Chiefs committed to keeping him at OLB or does he move to the defensive line? He has looked raw but has shown some playmaking ability - could remain a hybrid piece on our defense with some imaginative scheming. I would seriously take a flyer on Elvis Dumervil - older but relatively cheap third down pass rusher. Chiefs could also look to add a younger player like Jeremiah Attoachu. We need to add something cause we are an injury away from Zombo being a starter again. Cannot count on Dadi but would be nice to see him stay healthy - I say he will be cut during the preseason. We will need to look at the pass rushers in the draft but what type - a Houston type that was a HUGE find, a Ford type that had potential but disappointed, or a KPASS type that is a raw project that will take time and patience. We all want to believe our draft crush will be the next Houston but nothing will guarantee that. Unfortunately, I could see the Chiefs drafting one pass rusher and rolling with Houston, Ford, KPASS, and Zombo. Add another one next year to replace Ford. Scheme once again lowers our production - Hopefully, our new linebacker coach can revitalize our pass rush. Personally, I would start KPASS over Ford - putting a fire under his ass and possibly even using him for trade bait as the season goes on. That is with the assumption that anyone but Zombo takes his place.

Safety - Eric Berry, Daniel Sorenson, Eric Murray, Leon McQuay, Jordan Sterns, Devin Chappell. Berry is All-World and is the unquestioned leader of the defense when healthy. I am all in with McQuay - He flashed as a hitter in the Denver game and I think him and Berry would make a great combo. Sorenson is okay in a limited role but never should be a starter on this team again. Murray is just plain pathetic and his roster spot is in jeopardy - Sterns and Chappell are both young and sound like practice squad material. Resigning Terrell would be solid as he looked decent before he got injured and we could always add a young player in the draft. In my mind, if we draft a safety - one that can play both free and strong - Murray is cut and we start counting the days that Sorenson is the third safety. Some might say that I am too high on McQuay - He did make some mistakes in the Denver game but he looked the part of an enforcer - something that we badly need in the secondary. Safeties are typically easy to find in free agency so we could add one there as well. With all respect to Ron Parker, do not think we will miss him that much as long as Berry stays healthy.

Corner - Kendall Fuller, Steven Nelson, David Amerson, Keith Reaser, Sheldon Price, Makinton Dorleant, Ashton Lampkin, Brandon Shippen, Prince Charles Iworah, Will Redmond. First off, Gaines, Mitchell, and Acker - all three would be cheap resigns - Would definitely keep Mitchell as a fourth corner as he performed better than the other two. In our nightmare scenario, let us pretend that the Chiefs resign Gaines and Acker as well. Fuller, Nelson, and Amerson are the starters and Mitchell is our primary substitute. Drafting a corner as we should adds another body but let us pretend that we will keep seven corners. Still have Gaines and Acker. Surely one of our large practice squad crew can beat out Acker so we can be shed of him. Leaves us with Gaines - a fifth corner at best. Does not sound too exciting but could be a possibility. Hate that we let go of Peters - Him and Fuller could have been the next James Hasty and Dale Carter. I liked Amerson as a depth signing but unsure about what he will give us as a starter. The HUGE question is whether or not we pursue any of the free agent corners - I do not believe so since we are committed to a cheaper defense. Any cheaper alternative is probably not starter material - could be a good depth move. The question becomes how good our draft pick will be and how much playing time they will see. Some options out there but doubtful that we find a day one starter. I think the Chiefs roll with Fuller, Nelson, Amerson, Mitchell, a draft pick, and the best remaining player or two.

Final Analysis - There are many unanswered questions on the defense but I remain hopeful that young and hungry players will outperform our sad sack defense from this past year. I have mentioned scheme several times and Bend Don't Break Bob will have to earn his stripes with a new crew. I am very high on Hamilton, KPASS, and McQuay and can see them really adding to our defense. Eligwe remains a mystery to me. Fuller was a great acquisition and Amerson needs to prove that he is more reliable than Mitchell, Gaines, and Acker. We need to get more physical on defense and that should be the focus on the players we draft. I challenge you to remember some great hits from this last year - Not that many to remember. Need to acquire some players with a football mentality.

Here is the hard part - prioritizing our needs on defense for the draft. We will take the best player available at positions of need but let us suppose that there are players of equal value at these positions when it is our turn to draft. Who should we pick first.

We need:

A dominant NT

A physical DE that can play run and pass

An inside linebacker that can remind us of the old DJ

A pass rusher opposite Houston

A shut down corner

A ball hawking safety

My order - inside linebacker (We are average here), Pass Rusher (Will be a third down player at best this year), Corner (The NFL is a passing league), NT (Have to stop the run up the middle first), DE (Takes a couple of years to make an impact), Safety (I am this high on McQuay)

I am sure that most everyone will say pass rusher is first and it is hard to argue with that logic. This order could change based on the development of the young players which we will not see until long after the draft. Maybe Hamilton becomes an All-Pro and we simply need to find a backup NT. Perhaps Will Redmond replaces Amerson as starter as the season progresses. It is hard to predict the future.

To be successful

1) The Chiefs have to make the right prediction on which young players will rise up to be starters or big time contributors and be able to draft accordingly. If they ride with Hamilton and he ends up sucking, it could be a long season.

2) After preseason, the Chiefs need to make the necessary moves to adjust to what they see. If Hamilton is the starter and he does suck in preseason, we need to be willing to make a move to upgrade then. We all saw the need at corner in the preseason last year as well as our lack of pass rush ability but we stood pat. Cannot make the same mistake.

BONUS - Special Teams

Need a returner but Winchester and Butker are very good. Would love to see Colquitt hang around on the cheap and retire as a Chief but ready to lose him and go with a cheaper option.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.