It's only March. And yet... what is the plan for the Chiefs defense?

With the first waves of free agency over, there are more questions than answers on one side of the ball. Beginning with who will be starting at multiple positions Week 1.

It’s only March. Say it with me, just like we did last week. It’s only March. That feels good, right? Good.

And yet.

(you could insert “however” into there as well. Probably “that said,” too)

And yet…

(You know it’s rarely good when there’s an “and yet” thrown in)

And yet…

With each passing day, the questions become just a little bit more pronounced. With each defensive free agent who signs elsewhere, each trade opportunity that vanishes, with each avenue for improvement that gets closed off, things become just a little more concerning when discussing the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense.

That feeling became a bit (a lot?) more pronounced today due to a pair of moves that, on the surface, don’t have anything to do with the Chiefs.

Field Yates @FieldYates

The Vikings’ new pass rush duo of Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith is already working together, as Minnesota converted Hunter’s $18M roster bonus into a signing bonus, creating $13.5M in 2022 cap space that helps fit Smith into the picture, per source.

The Minnesota Vikings signed free agent edge rusher Za’Darius Smith to a 3-year deal worth approximately $14 million per season. To make room for that contract, they converted defensive end Danielle Hunter’s roster bonus into a signing bonus. The reason that second part matters for Chiefs fans is that, until that moment, there were multiple rumors that the talented pass rusher from Minnesota could be had via trade due to his cost. With Minnesota eating the signing bonus, they appear to have closed the door on that option.

And with those two now gone, the last of the high level pass rushing options in free agency or available (apparently) for trade are off the table (besides the always-mysterious Clowney, who Kansas City has never shown interest in), and the Chiefs are left without a chair with the music having seemingly stopped.

It’s only March. And yet, a defense that finished the season ranked 24th in defensive efficiency last year per Football Outsiders, 27th in yards per drive given up, and 19th in points per drive given up is… demonstrably worse than it was when the season ended.

It’s only March. And yet…