Carlos Dunlap is a Chief. What does he have left in the tank?

Reviewing every snap in six games from 2021 to see what Kansas City's new DE brings to the table.

So hey, Carlos Dunlap is a Chief.

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter

Veteran DE Carlos Dunlap is signing a one-year deal worth up to $8 million with the KC Chiefs, his agent @DrewJRosenhaus confirmed.

By the time you’re reading this, more details will be out about the contract (it’s undoubtedly less than $8 million in terms of guarantees and has incentives built in), and there will be a number of reactions from his new teammates and coaches.

Hey, look, we already have one!

Nate Taylor @ByNateTaylor

Steve Spagnuolo on Carlos Dunlap intending to sign a 1-year deal worth a maximum of $8 million: “I did have a chance to visit with him (last night). It was a good chat. I’m always happy to add big, long guys with experience in the league.”

This is good news for the Chiefs on the surface. The pass rush rotation has been a question mark for the Chiefs, and was in fact the largest concern left when I wrote about the job Brett Veach has done this offseason. Outside of Chris Jones, the Chiefs did not have a single pass rusher who has shown the ability to consistently produce over the last several years, with an apparent heavy reliance on Frank Clark and rookie George Karlaftis. A pass rush that was already average to sub-average last season looked like it may take another step backwards.

Dunlap, a veteran entering his 13th year in the league, spent last season in Seattle, where he collected 8.5 sacks as a rotational pass rusher. The idea is, of course, that adding a competent body to the mix will add to the complementary pass rush and have a greater impact than just the individual player. It’s how Melvin Ingram, a solid but not great pass rusher, was able to have such an impact for the Chiefs last season (that and the lack of other consistently competent rushers).

Of course, being a competent pass rusher is about much more than sack numbers. It’s about what happens snap in and snap out and how a player contributes to the overall pass rush. Give me a player who “wins” at a higher rate and helps crush pockets or create pressure over a player who lucks his way into a few extra sacks.

So… is Dunlap a player who can do that? Can he contribute to the pass rush? The only way to know is to look at what he did last season with Seattle. To that end, I went back and charted every snap from 6 games throughout 2021, trying to spread out the games enough to see how he performed as the year moved along.

Let’s talk some Carlos Dunlap film, where he wins, what his limitations are, and how he fits with the Chiefs in 2022.