The Kansas City Chiefs want to bring back defensive lineman Dontari Poe, who is set to become a free agent when the new league year begins on March 9 at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Poe finished the 2016 season with 27 tackles and 1.5 sacks, and while those numbers don't light up a box score, the majority of his value and work in the trenches is set up to allow others around him to make plays.
According to the football analytics website Pro Football Focus, Poe had 15 run stops and 23 quarterback hurries for the Chiefs last season.
"We all like big guys," Chiefs general manager John Dorsey explained on Thursday. "I had a great conversation with [Poe's] representative (Wednesday) – just to inform him that we're not going to use the (franchise) tag for him. I also let him know that I want to stay in an open line of communication because I don't like to let good football players go. I consider him a really good football player. I'm going to let the process take its way out.
"If we have an opportunity to get him back, I'm going to fight like the dickens to get him back."
Chiefs coach Andy Reid also stated that he'd love to have Poe back next season, but understands there's a financial aspect to this as well.
"Eric Berry got a substantial amount of money," Reid added. "I'm not sure what's left in the purse, but we love the kid. We'd love to have him back for sure."
Poe might be most remembered for the plays he made on the offensive side of the ball over the past couple of years, including the ever popular "Hungry Pig Right" and "Bloated Tebow Pass."
Defensively, the Chiefs' talent cupboard isn't bare, as they should be getting veteran defensive linemen Jaye Howard (hip) and Allen Bailey (torn pectoral), who both finished last season on injured reserve, back for the 2017 season.
"Those guys are doing good," Reid explained. "We've gotten good reports—Jaye's working down where he got the surgery, but they're all making progress and doing well and we expect them all back.
"It'll be great to get those guys back in there playing, a couple of those guys we missed there, so it'll be good to get them back."
Combined with the play of rookie Chris Jones and second-year player Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who both stepped up last season with the injuries to Howard and Bailey, the Chiefs defensive line has a few guys with experience heading into next season.
A good amount of credit should go to defensive line coach Britt Reid, who helped develop those young players and get them ready to play significant snaps last season, which they weren't necessarily counting on before the injuries to Howard and Bailey.
That said, Poe was the leader of that group on the field and was credited by both Jones and Nunez-Roches for their development and ability to step in and play.
The Chiefs will have to wait and see how things transpire with Poe, who will be able to sign with any other team when the new league year begins next Friday, March 9, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
