NFL veteran defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi has signed a new contract with the TEAM. Nnadi, a former third-round pick, spent the entirety of his professional career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The #Chiefs are re-signing starting DT Derrick Nnadi, per his agents @_SportsTrust. Nnadi started all 20 games last year and now returns for a sixth season in Kansas City.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 21, 2023
Derrick Nnadi, Kansas City Chiefs, Agree to Contract
Defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi chose a bad year to have a disappointing season. After signing a one-year contract and effectively betting on himself, Nnadi finished the 2022 campaign with zero sacks, 25 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, and zero quarterback hits. These underwhelming numbers were backed up by his well below-average 41.3 PFF grade.
Derrick Nnadi originally entered the NFL as a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Selected by the Kansas City Chiefs, the Florida State product began his career in a rotation filled with ferocious pass rushers. In total, the rookie appeared in 16 games (11 starts) while recording no sacks, 35 tackles, no tackles-for-loss, and no quarterback hits while making it all the way to the AFC Championship Game.
Nnadi earned a larger role in 2019, as he started all 16 games at defensive tackle for Kansas City. While on the field, Nnadi recorded one sack, 48 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, one quarterback hit, one interception, and one forced fumble. With Nnadi’s help, the Chiefs became Super Bowl champions for the first time in 50 years.
Injuries broke Nnadi’s perfect attendance streak in 2020, but he still managed to start in 15 games while recording 47 tackles, zero tackles-for-loss, and one quarterback hit. Once again, the Chiefs made the Super Bowl, but this time they could not take down Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Now entering a contract year, Derrick Nnadi responded with his best season to date in 2021. Appearing in all 27 games, the Florida State product recorded a career-high three sacks, 38 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and five quarterback hits. However, despite his improved play, Kansas City could not return to the Super Bowl, instead falling to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game.
Main Photo: Denny Medley – USA Today Sports
