Nov. 28, 2015, file photo, Clemson’s Shaq Lawson looks on from the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
INDIANAPOLIS – A cursory glance of the Kansas City Chiefs’ current roster shows a potential need for edge rushers.
Outside linebackers Frank Zombo and Dezman Moses and defensive ends Mike DeVito and Jaye Howard are set to become unrestricted free agents on March 9. Additionally, the status of outside linebacker Tamba Hali remains unclear.
Given the likely holes, the Chiefs are doing their homework while at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Chiefs are confirmed by ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal to have used four formal interviews on Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson, Eastern Kentucky defensive end Noah Spence, Virginia Tech outside linebacker Dadi Nicolas and Notre Dame inside linebacker Jaylon Smith.
The 6-3, 269-pound Lawson said he met with the Chiefs in a formal setting Thursday night, adding he is comfortable playing in either a 3-4 or 4-3 base defense. The 6-2, 251-pound Spence confirmed he also met with the Chiefs.
The 6-2, 235-pound Nicolas said he is scheduled for a formal interview Friday night, while the 6-2, 223-pound Smith said he is currently scheduled for a formal interview during the Combine.
Smith comes with medical concerns, however, as he suffered a torn ACL and MCL against Ohio State during the Fiesta Bowl.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are also making the rounds with informal interviews.
Brigham Young defensive end Bronson Kaufusi, who measures 6-6 285 pounds, said he met with a number of Chiefs scouts in an informal setting Thursday night. Kentucky inside linebacker Josh Forrest said he had an informal meeting with the Chiefs linebacker coaching staff Thursday night.
A team is allocated a maximum of 60 formal interviews in 15-minute increments. Informal interviews can occur throughout the week at the Combine.
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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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