The Kansas City Chiefs added an extra interior defensive lineman on Tuesday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Chiefs have agreed to terms with free agent defensive tackle Danny Shelton on a one-year deal.
Shelton, 29, is a former first-round draft selection (12th overall) by the Cleveland Browns in 2015. The 6-foot-2, 345-pound d-tackle spent three seasons in Cleveland, compiling 128 tackles (71 solo), 11 tackles for a loss, and one and a half sacks. In 2018, he was traded to the New England Patriots in exchange for a third-round pick in 2019.
Shelton spent two seasons with the Pats, accounting for 82 tackles (40 solo) and three sacks. Following the 2019 season, Shelton signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent. He went on to start the first twelve games in the middle of Detroit’s d-line before suffering an injury that landed him on injured reserve, ending his season. The Lions terminated his contract soon after, making him a free agent.
On March 29, 2021, Shelton signed with the New York Giants, appearing in thirteen games and finishing the year with 31 tackles (12 solo). He was not retained by the Giants over the offseason and has been on the street until Kansas City picked him up.
From a statical standpoint, Shelton is on the verge of becoming an NFL journeyman, but there’s a chance he could fit right in with the Chiefs as a rotational run stuffer and an excellent depth piece. That’s assuming he makes the team at the end of August.
As training camp progresses, Shelton will compete with Khalen Saunders, Tershawn Wharton, Taylor Stallworth, Austin Edwards, Matt Dickerson, and Kehinde Oginni Hassan. Through seven career seasons, Shelton has mounted up 278 tackles (138 solo), 17 tackles for a loss, and six sacks.
