Linebacker signs with Chiefs following career year in 2022

Drue Tranquill posted a career year in 2022, leading the Los Angeles Chargers’ linebacking corps while contributing heavily to the team’s largely Joey Bosa-less pass rush. But a strong market does not appear to have formed for the ascending defender.

The Kansas City Chiefs are picking up the fifth-year veteran on a one-year deal, Jordan Schultz of theScore tweets. One of many intriguing off-ball linebackers to hit free agency this year, Tranquill will stay in the AFC West and join a Chiefs team that returns both its top linebackers. Tranquill’s deal is worth up to $5M, Schultz adds (on Twitter).

Nick Bolton and Willie Gay remain on their respective rookie contracts, but Tranquill will join the defending Super Bowl champions and bolster their already-strong defensive second level. Tranquill did not match Bolton in tackles last season, with the emerging star recording a stunning 180 stops, but Bolton’s new teammate shined during his contract year. Tranquill racked up 146 tackles and five sacks while adding four pass deflections, an interception and a forced fumble.

A part-time player in the past, Tranquill wore the green communication dot for the Bolts last season and started 16 games. The former fourth-round pick out of Notre Dame bounced back from a season-ending broken ankle sustained in the Bolts’ 2020 opener, but unlike a few other ILBs, he could not cash in this offseason.

Tremaine Edmunds‘ $18M-per-year deal lapped the linebacker field, as expected, but the New York Giants gave Bobby Okereke a four-year, $40M pact. Germaine Pratt scored $6.75M per year to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals, while Alex Anzalone, Alex Singleton and Cole Holcomb reached $6M-per-year agreements. Eric Kendricks, David Long, T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White landed in that neighborhood as well. Tranquill may not have as many three-down opportunities as he did in Los Angeles, so this stands to be an interesting audition season. It will also be intriguing to see if he pushes Gay for playing time; both will be in contract years in 2023.