While most of the Kansas City Chiefs' offseason will be focused on the offensive side of the football, there will still be a few tweaks to the defensive side of the football in order to replenish a unit that has largely carried the Chiefs for the better part of the last two years.
Kansas City will have several key free agents on the defensive side of the football, such as Nick Bolton, Justin Reid, and Charles Omenihu. We'll see if Kansas City decides to bring back defensive anchors in Bolton and Reid, but Omenihu has been one of Kansas City's most explosive pass-rushers the last two years, and what Kansas City decides to do with Omenihu will be fascinating.
If Kansas City decides to move on in a different direction, they will likely need to add a veteran pass rusher to add a little bit more juice to the position group that took a slight step back in 2024 when it came to overall production. George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, and Felix Anudike-Uzomah form a solid group, but the room needs a little bit more, which is evident by the fact that Kansas City gave up multiple draft picks last year to try and add pass rush depth with Cam Thomas and Joshua Uche.
One name that stands out in free agency as a plug-and-play replacement for Charles Omenihu is Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo.
The Colts pass rusher is one of the more intriguing d-line options on the open market.
Odeyingbo is a big, strong, and technically sound pass rusher who is still up and coming in the NFL. He had a strong contract year with the Colts in which he recorded 31 combined tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 17 QB hits, and 3 sacks.
Drafted in 2021, Odeyingbo has accumulated 16.5 career sacks, with 11 of his career sacks coming in the last two seasons. He also has a rising pass rush win rate, indicating he's beginning to figure it out as a pass rush threat.
What makes Odeyingbo a fit for the Chiefs, in particular, is that he can play inside and out, which allows him to be moved around to exploit certain matchups. We know defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would appreciate that about Odeyingbo, who is strong at the point of attack while also being a very stout run defender.
Kansas City needs to find a young, rising pass rusher to pair next to Chris Jones as he ages—someone who compliments George Karlaftis as a threat to win their one-on-ones and draw double teams. Odeyingbo checks those boxes.
Not only would Odeyingbo be a great replacement for Omenihu, but he may even be an upgrade as he has shown to be a versatile defender who wreaks havoc. And, at 25 years old, he may have a much higher ceiling. Not to mention, Odeyingbo has been available a lot more than Omenihu the last two years, which is important to note.
It will be interesting to see what the market for Odeyingbo looks like as he will have several suitors, including the Colts who will try to retain him, However, if he isn't too expensive, Kansas City should pursue Odeyingo to shore up their pass rush and continue to stay young and athletic on the defensive side of the ball.
