KANSAS CITY, Mo. — NFL free agency formally begins after 3 p.m. local time on March 13 and the Kansas City Chiefs almost certainly will be scouring the market for impact defensive players, but the teams has other needs and some players fit better than others.
Nick Jacobs and the 4th and 1 podcast crew are exploring the Chiefs' options in free agency at positions of need entering the 2019 offseason.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
[Feb. 28 — Nick Jacobs: Chiefs' biggest offseason needs]
[Feb. 28 — Tod Palmer: Chiefs' biggest offseason needs]
[March 6 — Nick Jacobs: Free-agent defensive backs targets]
[March 7 — Edge rushers]
[March 8 — Nick Jacobs: Free-agent linebacker targets]
[March 9 — Nick Jacobs: Free-agent wide receiver targets]
[March 10 — Nick Jacobs: Free-agent tight end targets]
[Gallery: Grading the Chiefs' use of the franchise tag through the years]
The Chiefs' situation at edge rusher situation is murky at the moment.
The Chiefs reportedly have been shopping outside linebacker Justin Houston to potential trade suitors since the NFL Combine and recently franchise-tagged outside linebacker Dee Ford also is rumored to be on the trade block.
Both are unlikely to be part of the Chiefs' long-term defensive plans, so we look at possible free-agent options in the second of our five-part free agency series.
Ford's age, inconsistency, and previous back injury probably will prevent Kansas City from making a long-term investment.
New defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's defensive lines historically have been stacked with athletic player who penetrate gaps with an aggressive and attacking up-field style.
Spagnuolo wants defensive linemen who can effectively loop, twist, and stunt against the opponents' pass protection as well as control the line of scrimmage with their disruption. To do so, the Chiefs need to increase their overall speed along the defensive line.
Here are some edge rushers who may help in that process:
EDGE RUSHERS
Trey Flowers, New England Patriots
Age (2019 season): 26 — Height: 6-2 — Weight: 265
Trey Flowers
Flowers will be perhaps the hottest commodity on the free-agent market. He potentially will command a deal worth at least $15 million per year from the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, or San Francisco 49ers.
That said, Flowers has great familiarity with new Chiefs defensive line coach Brendan Daly and may want to continue that relationship.
Flowers is a technically sound defensive lineman with an advanced understanding of leverage, hand placement, attack angles, and how to avoid over-striding in his rushes. He is really good with twists and stunts, showing no hesitation in executing them, to go along with good closing speed and high energy.
Shane Ray, Denver Broncos
Age (2019 season): 26 — Height: 6-3 — Weight: 245
Shane Ray
Ray, a former Bishop Miege High School and University of Missouri star, was out of place in the Broncos' scheme as a stand-up rush linebacker.
Blessed with an advanced pass-rush arsenal — a great spin move, dip-and-rip, and good bend around the edge — Ray also is a good run defender and has great reaction time at diagnosing the play and attacking the ball carrier. He gives high effort in both phases of the defense and crashes down the line of scrimmage to blow up the backside cutbacks.
The Kansas City, Missouri, native is a sure tackler and is really good at games and loops in the pass rush with his speed. He projects as a Leo, or weakside edge rusher, in the Chiefs' new scheme.
Shaquil Barrett, Denver Broncos
Age (2019 season): 26 — Height: 6-2 — Weight: 250
Shaquil Barrett
Barrett is another edge rusher who was poorly utilized in Denver. He has burner speed off the edge and a good bend to go with it. His straight speed covers a lot of ground quickly and he has good quickness on games and loops.
Barrett keeps defenders from locking in on run blocks. He has a good combination on his pass rushes and keeps from getting too predictable.
Additionally, Barrett is a relentless player who doesn't quit on the play just because the ball isn't near him. He is a rotational edge rusher at worst but may excel in the Leo position.
Preston Smith, Washington
Age (2019 season): 26 — Height: 6-5 — Weight: 265
Preston Smith
Smith is a lanky defender who still has room to put on additional weight. He has good speed but not elite.
Smith's long arms allow him to keep defenders from locking in on him when run blocking. He also is great at keeping his arms extended and his eyes in the backfield.
Once the ball carrier gets near his area, Smith shucks the defender or uses a dip-and-rip to the play-side shoulder. He doesn't often get knocked off the edge in run support.
Smith has good closing speed, but he needs a defensive line coach who can fully tap into his athletic ability.
Za'Darius Smith, Baltimore Ravens
Age (2019 season): 27 — Height: 6-4 — Weight: 272
Za’Darius Smith
Smith has a good combination of size and speed. He closes extremely well for a player of his build and also gives relentless effort on every play.
Smith has decent power, but that's made even better with his combination of speed to go with it. He's able to transition his speed into power in pass-rush situations.
Additionally, Smith has a good punch and the ability to defeat blockers in the run game.
Markus Golden, Arizona Cardinals
Age (2019 season): 27 — Height: 6-3 — Weight: 206
Markus Golden
Golden, a former star at the University of Missouri from St. Louis, would have to play the strong-side defensive end spot. He is a little stiff in the hips and can't fluidly bend around the edge, so he has to round off his rushes or go wider for a more effective rush.
Still, Golden is a strong run defender who is capable of playing on a rotational basis and would shine on run downs. He maintains good leverage fighting through reach blocks.
Golden always hustles down the line off scrimmage on the back side to make plays in the run game at the line of scrimmage. He would be an asset in the run game.
Olivier Vernon, New York Giants
Age (2019 season): 28 — Height: 6-2 — Weight: 270
Olivier Vernon
UPDATE: Vernon reportedly will be traded to the Cleveland Browns.
Vernon isn't technically a free agent, but he was reportedly on the trade block, according to the NFL Combine rumor mill. Unless a trade materializes, there is a strong possibility he'll be released before free agency starts.
Vernon is the ideal fit at the weakside edge rusher positions, which is commonly referred to as the "Leo." He can be slowed down by chip blocks, which is why the weak side would be ideal for him.
Vernon possesses good speed around the corner, closes quickly, and has a good change of direction. He also has a strong bull rush and good arsenal of combination rushes to keep the tackle guessing.
With his excellent strength, Vernon does a good job keeping defenders out of his chest and holds the edge well on run downs. He also is capable of executing the twists, stunts, games, and loops Spagnuolo's scheme requires.
Although it might be the offseason, you can listen to the "4th and 1" podcast each week with Tod Palmer and Nick Jacobs on iTunes [itunes.apple.com], Stitcher, Spotifyand TuneIn [tunein.com]. You can also find Nick on twitter @Jacobs71.
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