[ad_1]
The Kansas City Chiefs already boast two stars alongside their line of defense. However even with Chris Jones and Frank Clark within the fold, that hasn’t stopped normal supervisor Brett Veach from investing extra monetary sources on a place group that didn’t precisely stay as much as expectations final season.
Fortunately for the Chiefs, they didn’t must pay a premium value so as to add a participant with a confirmed historical past of getting after the quarterback. Actually, the reigning AFC champions dedicated simply $5 million in assured cash to safe a coveted free agent who not too long ago hit the market.
Kansas Metropolis’s line of defense didn’t dominate as anticipated in 2020
Regardless of having two established stars anchoring their line of defense, the Chiefs solely totaled 32 sacks final season.
Contemporary off signing an $85 million contract extension, Chris Jones completed one quarterback hit shy of matching his career-high of 29. Nevertheless, the 6-foot-6, 310-pound inside lineman solely totaled 7.5 sacks in 14 begins. Throughout his breakout All-Professional marketing campaign in 2018, Jones recorded 15.5 in simply 11.
In the meantime, Frank Clark as soon as once more didn’t stay as much as his personal profitable contract. After signing a five-year cope with almost $64 million assured in 2019, the previous Seattle Seahawks defensive finish solely totaled eight sacks and 14 quarterback hits a yr faraway from posting 13 and 27, respectively. And despite the fact that he performed yet one more sport in 2020 than he did in 2019, he truly recorded two fewer sacks.
The Chiefs definitely anticipated extra bang for his or her buck once they traded an enormous haul for Clark and proceeded to make him one of many highest-paid defensive gamers in NFL historical past.
Then once more, Clark nonetheless accounted for a major share of the workforce’s pass-rush manufacturing. Past their two big-name stars, the Chiefs had simply one participant file a minimum of 10 quarterback hits. Alex Okafor additionally represented the one defender on the roster aside from Clark or Jones who totaled greater than 2.5 sacks.
The Chiefs simply made a harmful $5 million addition to their star-studded entrance 4
With a transparent want for extra assist up entrance, the Chiefs simply made a harmful addition to their roster.
In response to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Kansas Metropolis agreed to phrases on a one-year cope with defensive deal with Jarran Reed. Though he could make as much as $7 million, the 28-year-old solely obtained $5 million in assured cash.
In fact, he made rather more than that in 2020.
Seattle signed the gifted inside lineman to a two-year, $23 million contract extension final offseason. Reed responded by totaling 6.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits in 16 video games.
The Seahawks launched the previous second-round choose on March 26. However by committing $5 million in assured cash, the Chiefs reportedly beat out seven NFL groups for Reed’s providers.
Satirically, his greatest season additionally got here in 2018. In his third yr in Seattle, Reed set career-highs in tackles (50), sacks (10.5), quarterback hits (24), and tackles for loss (12). Fittingly, he posted these monster numbers taking part in alongside none aside from Frank Clark.
By reuniting along with his former teammate, and by becoming a member of forces with Chris Jones, Reed enters an enviable scenario. With offensive traces targeted on conserving Kansas Metropolis’s two greatest defensive linemen at bay, he ought to have loads of one-on-one pass-rush alternatives. And if Reed will get residence at the next charge than he did in 2020, the Chiefs ought to boast one of many high defenses within the AFC.
The Jarran Reed signing offers the Chiefs extra flexibility heading into the 2021 NFL draft
RELATED: The Atlanta Falcons Suddenly Have No Choice But to Trade Their Most Valuable Asset
By profitable the bidding struggle to signal Jarran Reed, the Chiefs added a confirmed defensive playmaker at a reasonably cheap value. In spite of everything, his $5 million minimal payday ranks nicely under what Kansas Metropolis will shell out for Jones and Clark this yr.
With their line of defense stacked with three massive names, the Chiefs now have extra flexibility to handle their different wants within the 2021 NFL draft. Quite than needing to make use of an early-round choose on a cross rusher, they will goal offensive linemen and receivers who can make Patrick Mahomes’ life a little easier.
Slated to choose thirty first, Kansas Metropolis ought to nonetheless be in an excellent place to land an instant-impact playmaker. Florida’s Kadarius Toney, Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman, and Mississippi’s Elijah Moore might all hear their names known as throughout the again half of the primary spherical. If the Chiefs have a excessive grade on any of these wideouts, it wouldn’t be stunning to see them choose one other weapon for his or her star quarterback.
However, offensive deal with stays a serious want. After transferring on from each Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, Kansas Metropolis wants to speculate vital draft capital to search out plug-and-play replacements.
So whereas the Chiefs now boast a very scary line of defense, they nonetheless have loads of work to do on the opposite facet of the road of scrimmage.
All contract knowledge courtesy of Spotrac. All statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
[ad_2]
Source link
