Former Raiders and 49ers defensive end Arden Key has generated extensive interest this offseason. He is set to make the Chiefs his latest visit, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
The Chiefs and Key will huddle up Friday. Kansas City has a need opposite Frank Clark, who has not lived up to expectations since the Chiefs’ 2019 trade, and the team might face the prospect of its top defensive end being suspended in connection with his two gun-related arrests last year.
[RELATED: Chiefs, Clark Agree On Reworked Deal]
Once a first-round prospect, Key fell to Round 3 in 2018 and did not produce consistently for the Raiders. With the 49ers, however, the LSU product delivered an interesting contract year. He finished with 6.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hits — far and away career-high marks — and that has led to offseason interest. The Lions, Ravens and Jaguars have met with Key since free agency opened last week. The 49ers brought back Kerry Hyder, who played a similar role to Key for their 2020 team, providing an indication Key will soon commit to another team.
Kansas City traded for Melvin Ingram and saw the ex-Charger Pro Bowler do well to stabilize its pass rush, allowing the team to end its misbegotten Chris Jones-at-defensive end experiment. Ingram’s supplementary impact aside, the Chiefs still ranked 29th in sacks last season. Ingram is a free agent. Given Clark’s inconsistency and potential availability issues, the team certainly needs help on the edge.
What people might not really understand about Key’s “career year” last year, is the fact he had alot of his success later in the year when he was moved inside on pass rushing downs.
The 49ers run a wide-9 scheme, but moving Key inside this scheme allowed him to seemingly unlock his talent, along with being next to fellow solid DL mates like Bosa, Armstead, DJ Jones, Omenihu, Ebukam, and J.Willis…
So, teams that are looking at him as a pass rushing EDGE might not get exactly the same production from Key as he was able to accomplish last season.
Idk, maybe the added confidence and versatility of moving around the line might make Key a better Edge Rusher in general, but I’d definitely make sure my team is ready to use his strengths wisely before committing any big money to Arden Key…
I honestly am starting to think Brett Veatch sucks as a GM. Restructuring Clark and paying him over keeping Tyreek is terrible. Clark has done very little. Hill has been amazing so let’s keep Clark. Then let’s sign the packers 27 year old receiver who has done nothing in his career.
As a Chiefs fan, I agree. Veach has literally destroyed this organization and turned it onto the laughingstock of the NFL. His drafting, player signings, and cap management has led to years of utter failure. Why the Chiefs don’t fire him is unforgivable..
Chiefs have won the AFC West 5 years in a row. They’ve been to the championship game 4 years in a row. Won a super bowl. Trading Tyreek created 20 Million in cap space and they got 5 picks. They have the most talented QB in the NFL and one of the best coaches of all time. All they need is some defensive help. I don’t know how that’s utter failure. Veach is a great GM.
Cutting Clark would have caused $13 million in dead money. I believe they kept him at $14 million. It made sense to keep him.
Why throw in sense making facts that would completely obliterate their argument, when they can just continue complaining off baseless, in the moment emotions…lol
Not trying to rock the boat. I just see Hill as a once in a era type player and to see a player like that go is impossible to replace what he did. Other players are replaceable. Hill isn’t.
As far as Frank Clark. He has been not been that good. He is a court case from being in jail. Im sure Veach believes he isn’t going to prison but I think the team would be better moved on from with what he is bringing on and off the field.