The Kansas City Chiefs have brought back veteran defensive lineman Alex Okafor on a one-year contract, adding another piece to the defense of the two-time defending AFC champions, just four days before camp opens at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph. Financial terms of the contract were not disclose as of Tuesday.
Having spent the last two seasons in Kansas City, Okafor, now 30 years of age, has been productive for the Chiefs, but also battled through injuries, having originally signed with KC in March 2019 as a free agent from the New Orleans Saints for three years and $18 million.
In the Chiefs historic run to the Super Bowl title in 2019, Okafor missed the playoffs after tearing his pectoral muscle in Week 15. A bad hamstring held him to just 11 games in the 2020 season, although he did play in February’s Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay, racking up one tackle in that loss, and five total tackles over the three postseason games played by the squad.
Okafor expects to compete for a backup role behind anticipated starters Frank Clark and Chris Jones as the team’s edge rushers. Behind the anticipated starters, youthful competition is expected from Taco Charlton, Mike Danna, and Joshua Kaindoh. However, Clark’s availability for the 2021 season is very much in question, after he was recently charged in California with felony possession of an assault weapon stemming from a traffic stop in March. He faces another potential weapon charge following another traffic stop in California in June.
