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Kansas City Chiefs land DE Carlos Dunlap to fill a big need

By Russell S. Baxter

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 26: Nick Foles #9 of the Chicago Bears is pressured by Carlos Dunlap #8 of the Seattle Seahawks as he attempts to throw the ball during the third quarter at Lumen Field on December 26, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 26: Nick Foles #9 of the Chicago Bears is pressured by Carlos Dunlap #8 of the Seattle Seahawks as he attempts to throw the ball during the third quarter at Lumen Field on December 26, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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The Kansas City Chiefs needed to find a more potent pass rush this offseason. And Andy Reid’s team might have hit the jackpot in signing Carlos Dunlap.

Back in early June during the team’s OTAs, Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo had this to say (via Ed Easton Jr. of ChiefsWire.com) in regards to the many changes this offseason in terms of personnel on his side of the football.

"“Yeah, there’s gonna be a lot of new faces, there’s youth, the system’s new to a lot of the guys even if they’re not young. I’m going through an eyeball, ‘What should we do shouldn’t we do all the time.’ I’m throwing a lot at them right now and they’re probably talking that way — the volume is huge right now for a reason. You know, find out who can handle it, who can’t…”"

Add another newcomer to the mix. Veteran defensive end Carlos Dunlap, who spent the past two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, is joining the Chiefs via a one-year deal that could pay him up to $8 million (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).

In 2021, he played in all 17 games for Pete Carroll’s team and led the club with 8.5 sacks, to go along with 35 tackles, one forced fumble, and seven passes defensed.

Dunlap was dealt by the Bengals to the ‘Hawks in October of 2020. He wound up playing in 25 regular-season games for Seattle and a total of a combined 13.5 quarterback traps.

But the team released him this offseason. All told, the two-time Pro Bowler has amassed 96 sacks and 21 forced fumbles in a dozen NFL seasons.

In April, the Chiefs used a first-round pick on Purdue University defensive end George Karlaftis. Now add Dunlap to a front that includes Chris Jones, Frank Clark, and Derrick Nnadi.

Those first two additions combined with the returning talent should help a team that managed a combined 36 sacks in 20 contests (31 during the regular season, 5 in 3 postseason games) in 2021.

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