Doug Pensinger - Getty Images
We'll be doing a position-by-position preview of the
Kansas City Chiefs roster as free agency nears. (Then again, I often say we'll be doing a series and then forget about it within 24 hours so we'll see.) Free agency starts on March 13. The franchise tag window is February 20 to March 5.
First up is defensive end. Here's the end-of-season depth chart (italics are free agents):
Left: Tyson Jackson, Allen Bailey, Amon Gordon
Right: Glenn Dorsey, Wallace Gilberry, Brandon Bair
This group won't be hit too hard by free agency. The starters are both under contract.
Related: All The Chiefs Free Agents
The free agents: Gilberry is set to hit free agency and I wouldn't be too surprised if the Chiefs let him walk. He looked really good in training camp but his snaps took a drop this year, as did his production. That tells me he's not a priority for the Chiefs. I'm not sure what happened between 2010 (eight sacks) and 2011 (2.5 sacks).
Also a free agent is Gordon, who was a surprisingly good pickup. I say that because the common thought when the Chiefs signed him last year was that he was just training camp fodder. Yet he ended up playing a role this season (and backed up
Kelly Gregg at nose tackle). I think the Chiefs would be interested in bringing him back if the price was right.
The rest of the roster: Bailey had a solid rookie year and saw a decent amount of playing time. He could be a riser and I think the Chiefs like him. Bair was undrafted last season but stayed on the active roster all year. Good sign for him moving forward.
And then there are the starters, Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey. I would guess both are likely to come back (and I think they should be back). If the Chiefs could replace them with a better player, then great. But that's easier said than done and they're both competent players so this shouldn't be one of the priorities.
That said...combined, they're due nearly $14 million -- $5.8 million for Dorsey and $8 million for Jackson. Who knows what could happen if they found a better deal on the free agent market? Anytime you have guys in the upper echelon of the pay scale on your team, you have to wonder.
One sentence prediction: The Chiefs add depth behind Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey while letting Wallace Gilberry walk.
I think it'll depend on how cheaply he can be had
He was good in 2010, not in 2011. It’ll just depend on if the team thinks 2010 was the fluke or 2011 was the fluke, or more likely he’s somewhere in between and how much it will cost to find out.
OmahaNick - February 9, 2012
Gilberry is a tough call
I’d like to have him back, but could see him walking too…
Gordon was a fine player… as was Shaun Smith
Shaun Rogers could fill a similar role, so I could see him coming in to replacing Gordon.
or they could draft a Ta’amu-type-guy to play DE/NT?
they MUST like Bair, given that he didn’t sniff the PS… so maybe he becomes the next Gillberry?
stagdsp - February 9, 2012
Bair to Gilberry's spot, Rogers to Gordon's spot?
Or, Rogers to Dorsey’s spot, Dorsey to St. Louis.
Brsrkr - February 9, 2012
the first one
I think Dorsey stays
stagdsp - February 9, 2012
I'd kinda like to see Gordon succeed. It'd be a good story.
Brsrkr - February 9, 2012
me too
stagdsp - February 9, 2012 via mobile
Nope.
Let Gilberry walk and give Powe his slot.
Chiefsfansince85 - February 9, 2012
No way Dorsey leaves anyway
You don’t get rid of your best run stopping DE unless you’re going to get a lot in return and St. Louis isn’t going to give up anything to attempt to get him.
I could, however, see them cutting Jackson and with good provocation. He has underperformed and he’s going to be way overpaid.
Patrick S. Williams - February 10, 2012
actually
Jackson might be the best run stopping DE on the team at this point.
Dorsey isn’t far behind
I see them both staying
stagdsp - February 10, 2012
I feel like the idea of bringing in Shaun Rogers
is as old as the idea of moving Albert to his natural position.
Chiefs447 - February 9, 2012
Free Safety?
Zif - February 9, 2012
Gilberry bulked up.
And it made him worse instead of better.
Tarkus - February 9, 2012
Could also be that teams started looking at his tape and making him a focus for the O line.
Brsrkr - February 9, 2012
I searched and Tarkus is right apparently he was "bigger in the upper body" this year
I mean Gilberry not Tarkus, I have no idea if Tarkus bulked up.
OmahaNick - February 9, 2012
Yes, but lower body.
Gilberry wanted to be stronger, so he’d be a better all-around lineman. But it seemed to hurt his explosiveness.
Tarkus - February 9, 2012
I think Gordon will be back
He looked pretty good when he had to fill in for Dorsey.
Gilberry would be more productive as a 4-3 DE so could see him going to another team and Bair getting his snaps.
KingChief - February 9, 2012
I'd rather have Gordon back than Gilberry.
Gordon is valuable in that he can play all three spots on the DL, and not embarrass you.
Tarkus - February 9, 2012
Just hope Powe can lock down that NT spot and the dline will be good to go
KingChief - February 9, 2012
me too.
Nervous that he didn’t get any PT this year.
Rupert Daniels - February 9, 2012 via mobile
nah
It’s pretty clear… they only kept 1 pure NT active on game day… so with Gregg, there wasn’t room…
But, Powe did look good in limited action I think, so he has a chance
stagdsp - February 9, 2012 via mobile
True.
I was a little worried that he wasn’t getting much PT. But it was pretty clear that they were running so much nickel, dime and just four man fronts in general that it wasn’t worth it to have two true NT’s active. They just gave those extra snaps to Gordon, and judging by how he played, I can’t blame them for staying the course with that strategy. Hopefully they give Powe a shot this season.
polodude017 - February 9, 2012
have to agree. was pretty let down by gilberry this year honestly.
SDChief - February 9, 2012
If someone offered us a 3rd rounder for Dorsey, I’d snatch it up. Even better if it’s a conditional 3rd rounder that could rise to a 2nd. Gilberry? In his efforts to prove his was a complete DE, instead of a sitatuation pass rusher, all he did was show everyone his similarity to the career of Eric Hicks.
Topchief1 - February 9, 2012
I hope Gilberry goes to a solid 4-3 squad
I think he could shine as a DE in a 4-3
IPWT2009 - February 9, 2012
can you imagine that Gillberry was on the Giants squad at one time.
If they still had him their rotation would be ridiculous
IPWT2009 - February 9, 2012
id be happy to see gilberry go sign with a 4-3 team and get his real chance
from what we saw from bailey, they did a good job drafting gilberry’s replacement
SDChief - February 9, 2012
Your prediction is probably right.
I think Gilberry walks and he should. He just doesn’t fit the scheme.
Dorsey, Jackson, Bailey and Gordon (assuming they bring him back, and they should) should form a solid end rotation with Bair providing depth. I’d would be willing to listen on Dorsey if a 4-3 team was came with a really aggressive offer, but other than that, those five should be pretty set in stone. Like someone else said, that just leaves the nose to consider. Hopefully Powe can take on a bigger role with Gordon taking some snaps there.
polodude017 - February 9, 2012
What had happened was...
Allen Bailey. Gilberry sadly lost snaps to Bailey. Nothing against Bailey, but Gilberry was doing a phenomenal job. I really like the guy particularly as a sub package player. I was hoping they would ask him to lose some weight and play the spot Houston ended up at prior to last years draft. I guess they wanted him to be bigger and add weight to see if he could be a 3 down player. Oh well. Now we have Bailey and I am very excited to see what Brandon Bair can do. He is a big strong guy and could pan out maybe? If Romeo thinks these are the guys… Trade Dorsey and Bowe to St. Louis! I want me some mother loving RGIII to watch with my season tickets. Griffin is a beast. Big, strong, smart, fast, great arm with both strength and accuracy. Man i hope we get this kid! If we are trying to make a play for next year though I hope it’s Tyler Wilson from Arkansas… My buddy was roommates with him and said that he constantly turned down parties to study his playbook.
xhornetsx - February 9, 2012
Gilberry did t lose snaps to bailey
He took over for Dorsey who used to play nickel packages with Gilberry.
ChiefWarPaint - February 9, 2012
Sooooo what you are saying is.
Gilberry played in in Dorsey’s eat blockers/not really rush the passer role instead of the rush the passer role that he was in last year which was filled by Bailey this year. Yeah I read that right. It’s crazy how that works. It’s still losing snaps at the position he has excelled at. I really like Gilberry. I think he has been a stud back up for us. I like Bailey as well though. So it’s all like… meh with the gilberry/bailey isms. Give me a QB though. I don’t like Cassel limp dicked arm approach.
xhornetsx - February 11, 2012
Griffin is not big.
In fact, he’s downright small.
polodude017 - February 9, 2012
Define big
He has a good build. He is the same size as Aaron Rodgers. With a more muscular build. 6’2’’ 225lbs is big to me. Not a fat Roethlisberger kinda big, but big.
xhornetsx - February 11, 2012
+1 On Tyler Wilson.
He has some things to rectify next season. But I love his toughness and calm in the pocket. I’ll take those attributes over a guy with all the physical tools in the world, but freaks out when he has the slightest bit of pressure on him. If a QB can’t handle high-pressure situations, and being pressured in the pocket in freakin college … just try to imagine what he’ll do in the NFL! My fave is Matt Barkley, but Wilson is my second fave next year.
LocoLoboChico - February 9, 2012
Ugggghh!
I wish we could dump that damned 3-4. We’re handcuffed for personnel with it.
WillShields4ever - February 9, 2012
Is this serious?
polodude017 - February 9, 2012
Yeah, but...
We’ed have to sign Gilberry and have Hali coming off the bench. Nobody wants to be that coach.
12t - February 23, 2012
Bailey
FrankPitts - February 10, 2012 via mobile
...trying to do this via iPhone
Bailey may unseat Dorsey if so I could see Dorsey traded
FrankPitts - February 10, 2012 via mobile
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