The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing back a hidden gem at the linebacker position, who had one of the more improbable performances of the 2024 NFL season.
The Chiefs re-signed LB Blake Lynch over the weekend, per the NFL’s personnel notice for Monday, Feb. 3. Lynch originally signed with the practice squad on Dec. 30 after a season-ending knee injury to linebacker Jack Cochrane left the team shorthanded at the position with Week 18’s game against the Denver Broncos coming up.
Why did the Chiefs re-sign LB Blake Lynch?
Lynch is one of the few undrafted free agents who have remained in the league since the COVID-19 pandemic year. The 27-year-old spent two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings in 2020 and 2021, appearing in 17 regular-season games with six starts. During those seasons, Lynch recorded 47 total tackles, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, two passes defended, and an interception. He’s bounced around ever since with stops in Arizona, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Las Vegas, but had a bright spot in the eight days he spent with Kansas City in 2024.
He finished the Broncos game in Week 18 with six total tackles, including two stops and one tackle for loss, and allowed no targets in four coverage snaps, playing mostly MIKE linebacker. That’s pretty impressive for a guy who has never played in the Chiefs’ system, with just three days of practice to prepare and play 47 total snaps (25 defense, 22 special teams).
It’s no wonder Kansas City is bringing him back with LB Nick Bolton’s future up in the air, LB Swayze Bozeman now in Chicago, and Cochrane coming off of the aforementioned season-ending injury. The Chiefs need depth at the position, and Lynch has already proven what he can do in short order. How about with an entire offseason of prep under his belt?
