Standout defensive lineman Dontari Poe is about to hit the free-agent market once again. Which teams could best use his services?
NFL teams are always looking for help on the defensive line. Be it strictly run-stoppers, edge rushers or players that can do a little of both, having a solid front and some depth behind it can add up to big things. Just ask the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The experienced Dontari Poe was the 11th-overall pick in the 2012 draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent the ’17 season with the then-defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons. All told, the talented defender has been a member of four playoff teams in his six years in the league. And it appears that the 27-year-old performer is getting ready to test free agency again this offseason.
So where does the versatile and athletic Poe fit best when it comes to the open market? There are three teams that come to mind.
Best Fits
1. Indianapolis Colts
The six-year pro earned a pair of Pro Bowl invitations while he was with the Kansas City Chiefs. Poe was a first-round pick by the club in 2012 and current Colts’ general manager Chris Ballard was with the Chiefs for four seasons (2013-16) so familiarity is an asset. Indianapolis has struggled to find play-makers along their three-man front for years and Poe would be a solid addition.
2. Washington Redskins
This past season, no team in the National Football League allowed more rushing yards per game than Jay Gruden’s squad. In 2017, team president Bruce Allen brought in free agent defensive linemen Terrell McClain and Stacy McGee and used a first-round pick on Alabama’s Jonathan Allen. The latter was off to a terrific starter but went down in mid-October and the Redskins’ defense slumped badly. More help for the defensive line would be a plus.
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3. Los Angeles Chargers
Head coach Anthony Lynn and the Bolts nearly overcame a 0-4 start to reach the playoffs. However, one of the club’s biggest shortcomings was a defensive unit that was highly vulnerable to the run. Poe has shown that he can line up in both the 3-4 and 4-3, a big-plus for Chargers’ coordinator Gus Bradley. And the six-year veteran’s familiarity with the AFC West is a big plus as well.