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Report: Chiefs DL Tanoh Kpassagnon is a potential free agent target to watch for Colts

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Super Bowl LIV - San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

According to the IndyStar’s Jim Ayello, Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon is a name to watch for the Indianapolis Colts as a potential free agent target:

The former 59th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Villanova measures in at 6’7”, 289 pounds with 35 5/8” arms. He ran a 4.83 forty time at the NFL Combine in 2017.

Athletically, Kpassagnon checks a lot of boxes for the Colts as a defensive lineman:

Colts general manager Chris Ballard presumably played a role in scouting Kpassagnon with Kansas City (or at least was very familiar with him) before becoming Indianapolis’ new head football man in 2017.

During four seasons with the Chiefs, Kpassagnon had 75 tackles (52 solo), 12 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, 73 total QB pressures, 5 passes defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 61 career games (24 starts).

Per PFF (subscription), Kpassagnon received a +55.4 overall grade this past season during 720 total defensive snaps.

Here’s a few snippits of Kpassagnon’s production:

Only 26 years old, Kpassagnon could be an under-the-radar defensive line signing for the Colts—as he continues to improve and grow in the trenches:

While not a star, Kpassagnon seems like a rotational defensive lineman who could potentially play a role similar to departed veteran Margus Hunt from two years ago—as a bigger defensive end on running downs who can kick in at nose tackle on obvious passing situations.

With starting free agent defensive end Denico Autry looking increasingly unlikely to re-sign, and fellow free agent edges Justin Houston and Al-Quadin Muhammad’s statuses uncertain, the Colts could use some additional reinforcements along the defensive line.

Kpassagnon hasn’t played up to his draft billing, but like the Colts previously discovered with both Hunt and Autry (although the latter was initially undrafted), there could be some untapped potential still there—especially with the former Chief serving as a versatile rotational defensive lineman.