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The Kansas City Chiefs will sign free agent middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The #Chiefs are now adding a big weapon on defense: They plan to sign former #Cowboys LB Anthony Hitchens to a deal worth $9M per year, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2018
The details:
Anthony Hitchens' five-year, $45M deal with the Chiefs includes a $14M signing bonus and fully guaranteed salaries of $790,000 in 2018 and $6.5 million in 2019.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) March 14, 2018
Hitchens, 25, originally entered the league as a fourth-round pick for the Dallas Cowboys in 2014. He spend the first four seasons of his career in Dallas.
Hitches was also recently named to Pro Football Focus’ top 50 NFL free agent list.
Per Pro Football Focus:
Hitchens finished with 38 total defensive stops, good enough for second on the team, despite missing the team’s first four games. He didn’t allow a touchdown on 37 targeted passes in 2017 as well, rounding out his performance.
Blogging The Boys wrote that Cowboys fans really wanted Hitchens to return.
This could mean that the Chiefs are set to let LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, who they acquired last year in exchange for D.J. Alexander, go to another team. Pierre-Louis is an unrestricted free agent and it’s worth noting he did find himself in off-the-field trouble in late January.
More from AP trusted NFL draft analyst Jon Ledyard:
Hitchens looked like an ascending player last year. Guy I wouldn't have minded to see Pittsburgh sign. Chiefs making two good moves https://t.co/h4qbtl2kb6
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) March 13, 2018