Tanoh Kpassagnon Signs Two-Year Deal With Saints

The New Orleans Saints are expected to sign former Kansas City City Chiefs defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Kpassagnon will sign a two-year contract with the Saints, giving them more rotational depth at the defensive end position.

The #Saints are finalizing a two-year deal with former #Chiefs DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 29, 2021

The Chiefs selected Kpassagnon 59th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. Since then, the Villanova product has appeared in 61 games, including 25 starts, and has recorded 18 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

The Kansas City Star's Herbie Teope confirmed the report and also added New Orleans was interested in Kpassagnon prior to the draft and even had him in for a private workout.

Teope also reported the Chiefs made a serious push for the defensive end but the Saints provided an "interesting opportunity" for him.

Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported Kpassagnon's contract with New Orleans is a five-year deal with three void years automatically 10 days proper to the 2023 league year. Additionally, the contract is worth up to $4.5 million with $2 million guaranteed.

Tanoh Kpassagnon (Saints) five years, three void automatically 10 days prior to 2023 lg yr, $4.5M, $2M gtd, $500K signing bonus, salaries $1M (gtd), $2.5M; $500K 2022 roster bonus, $750K sacks 2022 roster bonus escalator
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 29, 2021

Kpassagnon's decision comes less than 24 hours after the Chiefs' signed former Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed.

After Reed's signing, ESPN's Louis Riddick tweeted about what potential D-Line configurations could look like with a new tackle in the mix.

Expect to see Chris Jones play more DE on first and second down, stay inside on 3rd down (was used like this in AFC Championship two years ago vs Titans).Reed acquisition going to make #Chiefs DL much better, more multiple.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) March 29, 2021

Arrowhead Report's Joshua Brisco reacted to Riddick's report about moving Jones around and gave his thoughts on the matter.

Riddick's report is the most interesting element of this signing. If Reed was signed to essentially replace Jones on the inside — allowing Jones to move to defensive end, at least on early downs — the Chiefs are planning on starting Jones and Frank Clark at the defensive end positions and rotating Derrick Nnadi, Tershawn Wharton, Khalen Saunders and Reed in on the interior. If they still plan on keeping Jones at DT, this move gives the Chiefs a much stronger 1-2 punch in the middle of the d-line, though they'd still look to upgrade at EDGE.

The Chiefs are likely still on the hunt for another defensive end.