By Jack Johnson, Sports Radio 810 contributor
We’re still a few weeks away from when the Kansas City Chiefs kick off training camp in St. Joe.
However, that doesn’t mean the roster the Chiefs arrive with is going to be the one they leave
with. That being said, who is still remaining in free agency that Kansas City could take a flier
on?
1. DE, Justin Houston, 32
This is a reunion that makes a ton of sense for the Chiefs. At the moment, the two starters on
the edge for Kansas City are Frank Clark and Taco Charlton. Clark is coming off a season in
which he tallied only six sacks in 15 games. Charlton, 26, played in seven games and recorded
two sacks before a fractured ankle which ended his season. Regardless, the Chiefs are going to
need depth. Charlton has only started 12 games in four seasons with three different teams.
Though the addition of Jarran Reed allows Chris Jones to slide to defensive end in certain
situations, Jones isn’t moving permanently. If no move is made, the Chiefs’ depth on the edge
consists of 2021 fourth-round pick Joshua Kaindoh, Tershawn Wharton, and Mike Danna.
Houston, on the other hand, collected 19 sacks in two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts —
more than he tallied in his final two years in Kansas City. Durability wasn’t an issue, as the
former Georgia Bulldog started in all 32 games he played in. It’s not a stretch to believe that
general manager Brett Veach brings back Houston on a one-year deal to start for a Chiefs
defense that needs a stronger pass rush.
2. DE, Melvin Ingram, 32
Remember all those years when a Charger wearing the No. 54 found his way into the Kansas
City backfield? Well, if you remember the number but not the name, it’s Melvin Ingram. For a
moment, Ingram appeared to have fans convinced that he would be signing in Kansas City after
taking a visit back in March. According to Ian Rappoport, the two sides were unable to come to
a deal during the visit and Ingram left in search of better offers. A little over three months later,
the former Los Angeles Charger is still looking for a home.
Ingram played in just seven games for Los Angeles in 2020, as a knee injury sidelined him for
the majority of the year. He’s started just 20 games over the last two seasons, but when healthy,
he’s a problem for opposing offenses. Though he’s a bit undersized on the edge at 6-foot-2, 247
pounds, he can make up for it with speed. The question remains, can he stay healthy?
3. CB, Nickell Robey-Coleman, 29
If there’s one spot on the Chiefs’ defense that has raised some eyebrows, it’s the secondary.
Yes, Kansas City still has Tyrann Mathieu’s voice in that group and L’Jarius Sneed appears to
be the steal of the 2020 NFL Draft. However, the Chiefs let Bashaud Breeland, arguably their
No. 1 outside cornerback, walk in the offseason. That means one of two things. Either the
Chiefs are incredibly high on Rashad Fenton and DeAndre Baker providing depth for Sneed and
Charvarius Ward, or Veach is eyeballing another free agent corner.
One of the options still available on the slimmer cornerback market is Robey-Coleman. The
29-year-old is coming off a down year in Philadelphia, but was solid for the Rams from 2017-19
— where he allowed a passer rating under 85.0 for those three seasons. Robey-Coleman isn’t a
fix for the secondary unit, but he provides depth where there is little. Another option is Steven
Nelson, but his remarks of Kansas City a few years back likely steers away a potential reunion.
If you were in Veach’s shoes, who would you kick the tires on? Or, is there another name you’re
eyeballing? Let us know!