Spending on defensive linemen is up for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2015. Here’s a closer look at how the Chiefs are spending their salary-cap dollars on defensive linemen.
2016 salary-cap commitments: $18,189,761 (up from $12,912,601 last year) -- Dontari Poe $6,146,000; Allen Bailey $5,212,500; Jaye Howard $3,500,000; Alameda Ta'amu $675,000; David King $600,000; Nick Williams $600,000; Rakeem Nunez-Roches $556,261; Tautvydas Kieras $450,000; Jimmy Staten $450,000.
Percentage of Chiefs' total salary cap spent on defensive linemen: 12.8 (up from 9 percent last year).
NFL average salary-cap spending on defensive linemen: $22,237,157.
Chiefs' rank in defensive line spending: 19th among 32 teams (up from 27th last year).
Analysis: The Chiefs are spending for their top three players on the defensive line, but not to an extreme. Poe's cap number is tied for 37th-highest among NFL defensive linemen. The Chiefs have to be pleased with what they're getting for their money here. Poe was limited early last season after having back surgery but still was strong against the run. Howard (5.5 sacks) and Bailey (4.5 sacks) were among the Chiefs' top pass-rushers last season and also played well against the run.
