The Kansas City Chiefs have signed rookie pass rusher Cameron Sheffield to a four-year contract, according to the league’s transactions page.
The 142nd pick in April’s draft, Sheffield played defensive end at Troy, which has recently produced such stud pass rushers as Osi Umenyiora and DeMarcus Ware. Sheffield isn’t as talented as the NFC East sackmasters, but is a high-motor defender and possesses ideal size for a 3-4 outside linebacker at 6-foot-2 and 257 pounds. The Chiefs run a 3-4 defense, now overseen by new coordinator Romeo Crennel.
Sheffield left Troy with 15 career sacks and was a Senior Bowl participant.
He’s arrived in a good spot to potentially earn immediate playing time on defense. Tamba Hali is entrenched on one side, but 35-year-old Mike Vrabel is expected to start opposite Hali, and had just two sacks last season.
Sheffield will compete with Vrabel and Andy Studebaker for snaps. If he doesn’t win a regular job on defense, Sheffield will be asked to contribute on special teams.