Chiefs Decline Fifth-Year Options Of Disappointing Defensive End After Draft Changes
The Kansas City Chiefs won't be paying Felix Anudike-Uzomah as they declined his fifth-year option following the draft.
The Kansas City Chiefs made another significant move as they continue to revamp their defense and their pass rush, but this one was a likely subtraction rather than a significant addition. The Chiefs have declined the fifth-year option of defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, accusing to a report by Charean Williams of Pro Football talk . The move wasn’t unexpected, especially since the Chiefs would have owed the defensive lineman almost $15 million if they'd picked up the option.
The Chiefs made Anudike-Uzomah the 31st pick out of Kansas State back in 2023, and he hardly gave Kansas City any production at all given his draft status. He started just three games for the Chiefs during his time in Kansas City, and he missed all of last season with a right hamstring injury. The defensive lineman appeared in 34 games for the Chiefs, and his Kansas City totals include eight tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
The 24-year old Anudike-Uzomah played in a total of 550 snaps, and at this point in his career it’s more than fair to label him a bust. The Chiefs are making changes throughout their defense, and improving the pass rush is a major goal. They’ve revamped their secondary completely, adding cornerback Mansoor Delane with the their top pick at No.
6 overall, and they also signed several free agents to fill holes in the back of the defense after the departures of cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, with safety Bryan Cook also leaving in free agency. The pass rush will now feature edge rusher R Mason Thomas out of Oklahoma, with Thomas being a freakish athlete whose job will be to get to the quarterback as a spot substitute in passing situations. The Chiefs also drafted defensive tackle Peter Woods from Clemson to help beef up the interior, with the hope there being that the addition of Cook will help free up fellow defensive tackle Chris Jones from the constant double teams he faced last year.