Carlos Dunlap is not looking to retire just yet. The 13-year veteran pass rusher recently helped the Chiefs to their second Super Bowl win in four seasons, but the defending champions moved on with multiple defensive end additions.
Kansas City added ex-San Francisco Nick Bosa complement Charles Omenihu in free agency and, for a second straight year, used a first-round pick on an edge defender (Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah). The Chiefs have 2022 first-rounder George Karlaftis in place as well, but the team released its most prominent defensive end in Frank Clark, who is now with the Broncos. Dunlap is under the impression a return for another Chiefs run is in play.
“I can help another team get one of their own or help the Chiefs again,” Dunlap said, via Forbes’ Jeff Fedotin. “The Chiefs haven’t ruled that out, but currently it’s a waiting game.”
The Chiefs added to their Clark-Karlaftis tandem by signing Dunlap in late July last year, bringing the former Pro Bowler in on a one-year deal worth $3MM. Dunlap, who essentially replaced Melvin Ingram as the Chiefs’ veteran Clark wingman, registered four sacks and 12 quarterback hits during his Chiefs season. Dunlap, however, totaled nearly as many QB pressures (20) as Clark (24) last season.
Clark’s $5MM Denver guarantee followed Leonard Floyd securing $7MM from Buffalo, helping to see a veteran edge rusher market that will likely affect the respective free agencies of Yannick Ngakoue and Jadeveon Clowney. Markus Golden, however, secured just $1.32MM from the Steelers ($153K guaranteed). Given Dunlap’s age (34), it will be unlikely he can land a Floyd- or Clark-level commitment. But takers may well be there, especially if teams see a training camp injury or are dissatisfied with their depth at this premium position once pads come on. Multiple teams have contacted Dunlap, per Fedotin, but no offer has emerged.
As of now, the Chiefs are going with rookie-contract performers and Omenihu, who has not topped 4.5 sacks in a season. In addition to Karlaftis and Anudike-Uzomah, the Chiefs also drafted BJ Thompson in the fifth round and have fourth-year backup Mike Danna (five 2022 sacks) still on the roster. This quintet staying healthy would make it difficult to envision another Dunlap deal coming to pass.
Last season allowed Dunlap to reach the 100-sack plateau; he sits on 100 even after 13 years. While Dunlap has delivered just one double-digit sack slate, he has notched at least six in 11 campaigns — including an 8.5-sack offering for the 2021 Seahawks. Dunlap joins Ingram, Justin Houston, Jason Pierre-Paul and Robert Quinn as mid-30-something edges still on the market.