Forward of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ 2026 season, it appears like one gap stays alongside the road of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s rotation.
The defensive deal with room is deep. The signing of nostril deal with Khyiris Tonga permits for the growing abilities of Omar Norman-Lott and Peter Woods to be robust items of the rotation fairly than true every-down starters subsequent to defensive deal with Chris Jones. That foursome is robust, and a fifth wouldn’t be requested to do a lot week to week exterior of filling in case of harm.
On the sting, the defensive finish wants one other starting-capable participant. That’s to not put down the expertise of defensive ends Ashton Gillotte and rookie R Mason Thomas behind George Karlaftis, however much like Norman-Lott and Woods, every could be greatest if not requested to be the every-down starter reverse of Karlaftis. The workforce solely has fourth-year defensive finish Felix Anudike-Uzomah behind this trio.
Not solely that, one harm might make issues actually laborious on the unit as an entire. In Spags’ scheme, having dependable gamers on the sting goes a good distance in the direction of how profitable it’s all through a recreation and thru the season.
It looks as if the Chiefs might use a equally impactful participant on the sting to Tonga, somebody who may be relied on to eat up snaps on early or impartial downs, organising the younger, contemporary expertise to do the work on move downs and late-half conditions.
Now that previous good friend Mike Danna has signed with the Buffalo Payments, the workforce could be signing an exterior free agent if there may be one to herald.
There would must be some work carried out with cap area — we mission the workforce to have $6.9 million presently to work with earlier than signing a lot of the draft class — however listed here are 4 veterans who can be found in free company that would match that invoice:
KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 07: Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints traces up earlier than the snap throughout an NFL soccer recreation towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium on October 7, 2024 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. (Picture by Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs
The all-time New Orleans Saints defensive finish is the highest-priced participant on this listing, as a result of it doesn’t really feel like Kansas Metropolis will swing above his projected common wage of $6.8 million, per Spotrac. Former Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Payments defensive finish Joey Bosa is projected to make almost $14 million, however he may very well be thought-about relying on the quantity.
Jordan is a robust slot in Kansas Metropolis and will turn out to be a possible three-down defensive finish, rotating with Gillotte on early and pass-rush downs to solidify the road. He’s almost 37 years previous, however final season, he took the second-most snaps amongst Saints edge defenders and produced 10.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and two pressured fumbles.
He has additionally performed a minimum of 16 video games in all 15 of his NFL seasons.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 24: Jadeveon Clowney #7 and DeShawn Williams #75 of the Carolina Panthers sacks Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in the course of the fourth quarter towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Financial institution of America Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Picture by Matt Kelley/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs
The previous No. 1 general choose has lengthy been a possible signing to fill this sort of void in Kansas Metropolis, given his enjoying type at a listed peak and weight of 6 toes 5 inches and 266 kilos.
At 33 years previous, Clowney is coming off a season with the Dallas Cowboys through which he amassed 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, together with 4 passes defended, over 13 video games and 6 begins. It was the bottom snap rely he has totaled (372) since his rookie season, however he additionally accrued the second-most Stops (27) he has registered in a single season since 2020.
Spotrac estimates his common wage at roughly $5.7 million.
KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 21: Derek Barnett #95 of the Houston Texans rushes the passer throughout an NFL soccer recreation towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. (Picture by Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs
After just a few years because the third wheel to arguably the NFL’s greatest edge-rushing duo within the Houston Texans’ Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, Barnett is a free agent who’s projected to demand $4.4 million, in keeping with Spotrac.
At 29 years previous in 2025, Barnett totaled 5 sacks and eight tackles for loss, doing the soiled work whereas Anderson and Hunter dominated the manufacturing on the sting.
By way of a power-first participant that may set the sting and collapse the pocket, Barnett matches the mould of what Spagnuolo likes to have at defensive finish.
Soccer: Buffalo Payments A.J. Epenesa (57) in motion, reacts on the sphere vs Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Highmark Stadium. Orchard Park, NY 11/2/2025 CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Picture by Erick W. Rasco/Sports activities Illustrated by way of Getty Photographs) (Set Quantity: X164794 TK1)
As soon as the 54th-overall choose by the Payments within the 2020 NFL Draft, Epenesa has all the time appeared the a part of a 4-3 defensive finish in Spags’ scheme, as a result of former Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott ran an identical entrance throughout his time.
Over six years with the Payments, Epenesa was a gradual presence however solely a season-long starter in 2024. That 12 months, he hit the six-sack mark for the third consecutive marketing campaign, together with a career-high eight tackles for loss and two pressured fumbles.
In 2025, Epenesa regressed to a “rotational” function however nonetheless performed the third-most snaps on run performs amongst defensive ends and batted down 5 passes as a move rusher.
The Cleveland Browns agreed to a contract with Epenesa earlier this offseason, however the workforce backed out of the one-year deal after his bodily. That has clearly impacted his market, however Spotrac estimates his common wage at $6.4 million.
Do you agree or disagree with the kind of defensive finish wanted in Kansas Metropolis? Which free agent would you need the workforce to focus on? Tell us within the feedback.
