Chiefs Address Pass Rush, Acquire Melvin Ingram From Steelers

The Chiefs defense will receive a huge lift as they have acquired edge rusher Melvin Ingram from the Steelers.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Steelers will receive a 6th round pick from Kansas City. Ingram, 32, spent nine seasons with the Chargers, earning three Pro Bowl nods and recorded 49.0 sacks.

After an injury-riddled 2020 season, Ingram signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Steelers in the offseason. He was brought in to replace Bud Dupree, who signed with the Titans, but he hasn't been the complement to T.J. Watt he was expected to be. Ingram has just one sack, two tackles for loss and 10 total tackles.

His playing time was reduced as a result, and Ingram requested a trade out of Pittsburgh last Thursday. The Steelers were reluctant to trade him to an AFC team, so the move to send him to a conference rival in Kansas City creates questions.

Ingram goes from the No. 11 ranked defensive unit in Pittsburgh to the No. 29 ranked unit in Kansas City. The Chiefs haven't been able to get to the quarterback with just 11 sacks on the season, second worst in the NFL. The Chiefs will hope that Ingram can help create more pressure alongside edge rusher Frank Clark and defensive tackle Chris Jones.