With the initial frenzy of free agency over, we’ll start a look here at how the Kansas City Chiefs might line up at the various position groups if they had a game today and analyze at which positions the Chiefs have more work to do.
Defensive line
Likely starters: Allen Bailey, Mike DeVito and Dontari Poe.
Backups: Mike Catapano, Jaye Howard and Nick Williams.
Others under contract or protected with a tender offer: Hebron Fangupo, Vaughn Martin and Jerel Worthy.
Analyzing the need: The Chiefs get back DeVito and Catapano, who between them played in only one regular-season game last year because of injuries. But the Chiefs won’t have one of last season’s backups, Vance Walker, after he was released. Another, veteran Kevin Vickerson, is unsigned and an unrestricted free agent. So the Chiefs don’t at the moment, at least, have much experienced depth here. Of the backups, only Howard has played much. Also, considering that DeVito and Poe are in the final seasons of their respective contracts, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Chiefs drafted a defensive lineman. They haven’t done so since taking Catapano in the seventh round in 2013. Even then, they projected him as an outside linebacker when he was drafted.
