Getty Former Titans linebacker Kamalei Correa rushes Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.
The days surrounding the 2021 NFL draft have been particularly active for the Kansas City Chiefs. Three days before the first round kicked off, the defending AFC champions traded their top selection and three others in exchange for Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Brown Jr.
Four days later Kansas City signed former San Francisco 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon. After adding six new draftees and a handful of undrafted rookies into the mix, the Chiefs made two more free agent additions on Wednesday, May 5: veteran defensive back Will Parks and wide receiver Chris Finke.
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Now it appears a third free agent is on his way to Kansas City.
According to Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star on Wednesday, the Chiefs have signed sixth-year linebacker Kamalei Correa. Contract terms were not immediately disclosed.
The Chiefs have signed linebacker Kamalei Correa, a five-year vet, source told The Star.
Correa Joins 4th Team in 6 Seasons
Correa, who turned 27 years old on April 27, entered the NFL as a highly drafted prospect in 2016, having been selected in the second round (No. 42 overall) by the Ravens. The Boise State product spent his first two seasons in Baltimore before being traded to the Tennessee Titans in August 2018 in exchange for a 2019 sixth-round pick. He was again traded last October, this time to the Jacksonville Jaguars, in a deal that netted Tennessee a sixth-round choice.
After making a career-high six starts for Jacksonville, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker left the Jaguars for personal reasons in December 2020, per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, before being released on February 11.
For his career, Correa has racked up 84 combined tackles, 8.5 sacks, five pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles across 63 games (19 starts). He now joins a Chiefs’ linebacking corps comprised of Anthony Hitchens, Ben Niemann, 2020 second-round pick Willie Gay and this year’s second-round pick Nick Bolton.
Correa’s addition, along with Parks and Finke earlier in the day, unofficially brings the Chiefs’ roster to 91 players, one over the 90-man offseason roster limit. As a result, Kansas City is expected to make a corresponding move before officially inking Correa.
Former Chiefs TE Lands With NFC Contender
On the other side of the coin, a former Chiefs playmaker also found a new home on Wednesday. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, fourth-year tight end Deon Yelder is signing with the Washington Football Team for the 2021 season, per agent Christina Phillips.
Former #Chiefs TE Deon Yelder is signing with the Washington Football Team, per @AgentChristinaP
Pelisssero previously reported on March 14 that Kansas City would not be tendering a contract offer to the 26-year-old restricted free agent, instead allowing him to test the open market. Originally an undrafted free agent out of Western Kentucky, Yelder has compiled 10 receptions for 86 yards across 26 career games (two starts).
He’ll now join a Washington tight end group that includes 2020 breakout Logan Thomas, sixth-year journeyman Temarrick Hemingway and 2021 fourth-round pick John Bates.
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Chris Licata is an NFL contributor covering the Kansas City Chiefs from enemy territory in Denver, Colorado. Follow him on Twitter @Chris__Licata or join the Heavy on Chiefs Facebook community for the latest out of Chiefs Kingdom!