Chris Jones leads a talented group of defensive linemen

The Chiefs re-signed Nnadi in mid-March for his seventh season in Kansas City.

Nnadi has been a mainstay on the Chiefs’ defensive line for the past six seasons, appearing in 98 games, starting 86 of them. Last year, he appeared in 17 regular-season games and one postseason game – each as a starter – before suffering a season-ending triceps injury against Miami.

Dickerson, who returned to the Chiefs in February as a reserve/future signee, appeared in 13 games (including the playoffs) for Kansas City last season, logging 190 total defensive snaps during that time. He was almost exclusively an interior defender for the Chiefs, logging snaps as left defensive tackle (95), right defensive tackle (71) and nose tackle (38 snaps).

Dickerson, 28, originally joined the Chiefs last May before signing with the practice squad before the season.

Farrell was originally a fourth-round pick of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, but the Chiefs acquired him in a trade with Las Vegas just weeks before the 2023 season. During the year, he appeared in three games for Kansas City and played 41 defensive snaps.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Farrell was the eighth-ranked defensive tackle prospect in the 2022 class, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, who identified Farrell as a fourth-round pick. The draft ultimately went exactly as Brugler predicted, with the Raiders making Farrell the eighth defensive tackle selected this year with the 126th overall pick.

Additionally, here’s more from NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein, who compared Farrell to Detroit Lions defensive tackle DJ Reader in his pre-draft report:

“Nose tackle candidate with a well-earned reputation for making things difficult for blockers in the run game. Farrell has shown a personal maturity and development in his game that has allowed him to consistently intimidate opponents in 2021 as a physical force in the middle… He will be somewhat tied to home base but could help improve a porous run defense. Farrell is a two-gap nose with Day 3 value.”

Gubner, an undrafted free agent, earned a spot on the roster after a successful tryout during mandatory minicamp in June. Gubner, who is 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds, was named Big Sky’s Defensive MVP last season after recording 45 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks at the University of Montana.

Here is a quick note from Montana’s athletic department about Gubner:

“Gubner was the straw that broke the camel’s back and made Montana’s defense over the top in 2023, helping UM to a historic defensive season. The Grizzlies’ defense allowed just 108.5 rushing yards per game last season — third-fewest in the FCS and a Big Sky low. UM also had the FCS’s third-best third-down defense in 2023, allowing teams to score just 29 percent of the time.”

The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Lovett, who was not signed as a free agent in the draft, played in 54 games (31 starts) over the past six seasons for Mississippi State (2018-19) and Florida State (2020-23). ​​He was the Seminoles’ captain last season and served as a “key cog on the defensive line,” according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, who projected Lovett as a fifth- or sixth-round pick in his pre-draft guide.

Here is more from Brugler:

“Lovett is strong in contact and has the God-given length and strength to continue to improve as a pass rusher. He has a versatile skill set and will be used as a rotational inside linebacker.”

Pennel, who re-signed with the Chiefs in mid-March, originally joined Kansas City’s practice squad in late October and made three appearances during the regular season before appearing in all four of Kansas City’s playoff games. He logged exactly 40 snaps in both the Divisional Round and Super Bowl LVIII, earning Pro Football Focus’ second-best defensive grade of any player in the latter contest.

For Pennel, who also played for the Chiefs between the 2019-20 seasons, this is his second stint with Kansas City.

Wharton, who re-signed with the Chiefs in March, returns to Kansas City for his fifth season after recording 17 pressures, five quarterback hits and two sacks in 17 games last year. He was also a key contributor during the Chiefs’ playoff run, logging at least 25 defensive snaps in each of Kansas City’s four postseason games.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that Wharton’s 2023 season came right after an injury-shortened 2022 season due to a torn ACL. Now, more than a year into that rehab process, Wharton could play a bigger role next season.

Wharton is a great example of how an undrafted free agent from humble beginnings can build a career in the NFL. He signed with the Chiefs as a rookie free agent out of nearby Missouri S&T before the 2020 season. He made the team right out of training camp and has since made 55 professional appearances.

Next, this breakdown of the Chiefs defensive ends begins with last year’s starters, George Karlaftis and Mike Danna, before moving on alphabetically.

Karlaftis, a rising star on the Chiefs’ defense, recorded 64 pressures, 17 quarterback hits, 10.5 sacks and three passes defended last season, leading Kansas City’s defensive linemen in snaps (755). He then recorded 19 pressures during the Chiefs’ postseason, including a team-leading six pressures in Super Bowl LVIII.

As of Week 12 of the 2022 season, Karlaftis’ 16 sacks rank 11th among all players. He has a chance to take another step forward and establish himself as one of the league’s best pass rushers with a strong 2024 season.