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Derrick Nnadi

Jets Sign DT Derrick Nnadi

March 16th, 2025 at 11:15am CST by Rory Parks

The Jets have signed former Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler was first to report. Kansas City selected Nnadi in the third round of the 2018 draft, and he had spent his entire career with the club, winning three Super Bowl titles along the way.

From his rookie season through 2023, Nnadi primarily operated as a starter, and he also established a reputation for durability. As ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes, the soon-to-be 29-year-old defender has missed only two games due to injury in his seven-year career.

However, he did not hit the open market with much momentum. Nnadi was relegated to a reserve role in 2024 and saw just 221 defensive snaps, which was by far a career-low mark. In that limited sample, he also earned an abysmal 35.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which was even worse than his 40.6 grade in 2023.

The Jets, though, do not necessarily need Nnadi to be a world-beater. The club saw Javon Kinlaw parlay a one-year pillow contract to work as Quinnen Williams‘ primary sidekick on the interior of the defensive line into a three-year, $45MM deal with the Commanders — this despite a mediocre 53.2 PFF grade — and the hope is that Nnadi can provide a similar steady presence at a fraction of the cost.

Although financials have not yet been disclosed, Nnadi’s performance over the past several seasons would suggest New York is not breaking the bank here. As such, the signing will surely not preclude the club from pursuing additional upgrades in the draft, with Cimini classiyfing Nnadi — along with recent adds Byron Cowart and Jay Tufele — as a depth piece (we had not previously written on Tufele’s acquisition).

Phidarian Mathis — a former second-round pick of the Commanders whom the Jets claimed off waivers late in the 2024 campaign — remains in the mix as well. The entire group, of course, will take a backseat to Williams, one of the game’s best interior players who is coming off his third straight Pro Bowl season.

Nnadi has amassed 233 tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble in his regular season career. He has contributed 38 tackles and a sack in 18 games of postseason work.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/17/24

July 17th, 2024 at 6:47pm CST by Ely Allen

Some roster movement today in minor transactions as several teams are starting to add players to early injured lists:

Chicago Bears

  • Placed on active/NFI list: T Kiran Amegadjie
  • Placed on active/PUP list: DT Jamree Kromah

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Seattle Seahawks

There was good news on the Horton front back in May as it was announced that the Texans defender had completed his final treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma. As a rookie out of TCU, Horton sat out the final seven games of the 2023 season on the non-football illness list. As he continues to work his way back to the field, it appears he’ll start the summer on the list, as well.

Thompson’s situation in Kansas City also received some good news of late. After suffering a seizure that caused him to go into cardiac arrest in early-June, the Chiefs defender continues to make progress towards a return. He’ll start the summer on the non-football injury list but will continue to work his way back as he continues with medical procedures, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic.

Chiefs To Re-Sign DL Derrick Nnadi

March 14th, 2024 at 7:19pm CST by Ben Levine

Derrick Nnadi will continue his career in Kansas City. The veteran defensive tackle is re-signing with the Chiefs, his agency announced.

The former third-round pick has spent his entire career with the Chiefs, starting 86 of his 98 regular-season games and 12 of his 15 playoff appearances. Nnadi hadn’t missed a game since the 2020 campaign, but a triceps injury limited to only one playoff contest in 2023. The Chiefs would go on to win the Super Bowl, Nnadi’s third championship victory.

The 27-year-old finished this past season with 29 tackles and one sack while getting into 46 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus only ranked him 122nd among 130 qualifying interior defenders, although the site was more favorable of his past performance.

The Chiefs will have plenty of options to choose from to play opposite Chris Jones on the defensive line. The team’s depth at defensive tackle also consists of Tershawn Wharton, Mike Pennel, Matt Dickerson, Neil Farrell, and Isaiah Buggs.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/26/24

January 26th, 2024 at 10:18pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor transactions:

Kansas City Chiefs

Pittsburgh Steelers

After missing the Divisional Round matchup with the Bills due to a triceps injury, Nnadi has been placed on injured reserve. This ends the season for another Chiefs starter as the team continues to limp its way through the postseason.

Chiefs Re-Sign DT Derrick Nnadi

March 21st, 2023 at 6:21pm CST by Ben Levine

The Chiefs are bringing back a starter on their defensive line. Derrick Nnadi is returning to Kansas City, agency SportsTrust Advisors announced on Twitter.

The former third-round pick has spent his entire career with the Chiefs, starting 69 of his 81 regular season appearances and 11 of his 14 postseason appearances.

After starting only 10 of his 17 appearances in 2021, Nnadi started all 17 games for Kansas City in 2022. His lone sack came during the Chiefs’ postseason run to a Super Bowl, and he finished the years ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 119th interior defender among 124 qualifiers. He last graded as a top-end interior defender in 2020.

Even if Nnadi profiles as more of a situational player, the Chiefs will continue to lean on him in 2023. Khalen Saunders left in free agency, leaving Nnadi as the veteran member of the defensive tackles room.

Chiefs Re-Sign DT Derrick Nnadi

March 20th, 2022 at 7:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chiefs are bringing back another piece of their defensive front. As his agency announced (on Twitter), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi is re-signing in Kansas City.

[RELATED: DE Clark Staying In KC On Reworked Contract]

Nnadi, who will be 26 by the beginning of next season, was a third round pick of the Chiefs in 2018. In the four seasons spent on his rookie contract, he has started 52 of 64 games, establishing himself as an important piece to the teams’ defensive line. Playing between 448 and 599 defensive snaps each campaign, he has carved out a consistent role on the team.

In 2021, Nnadi recorded 38 tackles and a career-high three sacks. In his career, he has only missed one game, meaning a new deal with the Chiefs should come as no surprise. While his PFF grades have fluctuated greatly during his career, his consistency in terms of availability, workload and production has certainly rubbed off on the Chiefs.

With Nnadi under contract, along with the two biggest pieces of the front seven in Chris Jones and Frank Clark, Kansas City’s defense looks to be capable of replicating its performance as a top-ten scoring unit from last season. For Nnadi personally, he will continue his stay playing a notable role on a team with which he already has a Super Bowl ring.

Draft Pick Signings: 6/14/18

June 14th, 2018 at 9:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are today’s minor draft pick signings:

  • The Chiefs have signed third-round defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi. The Florida State product was one of the ACC’s standout defensive tackles in 2016 and 2017, averaging 51 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. The 6-foot-1, 317-pound rookie will compete with Justin Hamilton and Stefan Charles for the chance to backup free agent addition Xavier Williams.
  • The Texans have signed third-round offensive tackle Martinas Rankin, completing their draft class. The Mississippi State product had a breakout campaign in 2017, earning the Kent Hull Trophy (awarded to the best college offensive lineman in Mississippi) and first team All-ACC honors. With Julie’n Davenport and Seantrel Henderson penciled in as the Texans’ starting offensive tackles, Rankin will have to compete with Jeff Allen, Kendall Lamm, and David Quessenberry for playing time.