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On Tuesday, it was announced that linebacker Melvin Ingram would be traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Kansas City Chiefs. For what has been a relatively quiet trade deadline compared to year's past, this is a big move for a Chiefs defense that has struggled all year long to generate a pass rush or disrupt opposing offenses.
Ingram, a 3-time Pro Bowler for during his lengthy tenure with the Los Angeles Chargers, is set to be a huge difference-maker, as he's racked up 50 sacks over his career, including two seasons with 10.5 sacks. As of late, however, he's only been a rotational player with the Steelers, as he has no sacks and has played less than 50% of the overall snaps over the last three games combined.
Surely, this change of scenery is a welcome sight for Melvin, as the Steelers had been opting to give young linebacker Alex Highsmith increased snaps at his expense. Since 2015, Ingram has only had one season with less than 7 sacks, and an immediate boost in snaps and motivation as he moves to a contender could be the catalysts for a return to Pro Bowl form.
The Chiefs have only sacked opposing QBs 11 times this season, which is good for 31st in the NFL. They need Ingram to perform. Here are 3 bold predictions for his performance the rest of the season.
3. Ingram splashes in debut, stymies Packers
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Melvin Ingram will make his Chiefs debut this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, who will be without reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers at the helm after he tested positive for COVID-19. This will give all the Chiefs, but especially a supercharged Ingram looking to make an impression, the opportunity to make some huge plays against either Jordan Love or Blake Bortles. Steve Spagnuolo will surely be drawing up some exotic pressure packages to help get Ingram home in his debut, and he will make a big impact with multiple sacks.
2. Chris Jones dominates with the added help
Jones has been the Chiefs' best pass rusher for some time, but he has had to carry the load to an extraordinary extent this season. KC has lined him up outside much more than normal, and, though he's racked up a solid 3 sacks thus far, it's far off his usual pace of a double-digit sack season. With Ingram there to play the outside, Jones will be able to find more one-on-ones against interior linemen and be his usual disruptive self down the stretch.
1. Chiefs finish season above-average in sacks
While it doesn't sound like much of a bold prediction at face value, the Chiefs would have to leapfrog half of the leagueĀ midseason in order to be above-average in sacks this year. That's how bad they've been. Still, though, the margin between them and the 16th place team in the league is only 6 sacks, and Kansas City will be able to rack up sacks in bunches now that they've got Ingram and will soon have a healthy Frank Clark as well. With the offense in disarray and unable to consistently move the ball like years past, this defense needs to step up. With Melvin Ingram, they will.
