Ultimately, the Chiefs pay attention to their supporters and add a possible reinforcement in a position of need.
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero said on January 4 that “sources indicate that veteran defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs is signing with the Chiefs practice squad.” “Reinforcements up front for KC’s [defense],” it continues.
Buggs, a former Pittsburgh Steelers sixth-round pick, is a space-eating defensive tackle at his core. He played in the Steel City for his first three NFL seasons, making 29 appearances as a rotating player and starting seven of them.
Since2022, Buggs has been a member of the Detroit Lions, where he has made 27 appearances, 16 starts, and his second professional team.
With his height of 6-foot-3 and weight of 335 pounds, Buggs is suited for a role akin to that of Derrick Nnadi or former 2023 draft pick Keondre Coburn. With two career sacks and four tackles for a loss, Buggs isn’t much of a disruptor, but Pro Football Focus has identified 44 crucial defensive “stops” and 35 QB pressures, the most of which occurred in 2022.
Given that the Chiefs have just one defensive tackle (Neil Farrell) under contract through 2024, Buggs seems like a low-risk gambler with some potential. During his undergraduate career, he progressed from JUCO to Alabama, recording 11.0 sacks, 17.5 tackles for a loss, and over 100 total tackles in 28 games with the Crimson Tide.
Initial NFL Scouting Reports on DT Isaiah Buggs
Despite the 27-year-old Buggs’ recent arrival to the league, early scouting reports and his final NFL track record typically provide supporters a general idea of the kind of player their team will be receiving.
That spring, Buggs was viewed by NFL Network draft scout Lance Zierlein as a fourth- or fifth-round talent; hence, he was passed over a little bit when teams made their selections. “College base end who will transition full-time to defensive tackle in the pros,” he said.
Continuing: “Buggs has the body type, play strength and quickness to make a full-time transition inside as a one- or two-gapper, but he needs to play with more consistent resolve. He has some talent to win quickly as a rusher, but his testing numbers in quickness and explosiveness have been very poor and will likely cause him to drop.”
At the time, Bleacher Report analyst Matt Miller said that there were times when Buggs “seemed like a top 50 pick.” Miller’s main complaints were about “effort” and lack of conditioning, so maybe the KC coaching staff will bring out the best in the journeyman defensive lineman.
Isaiah Buggs Called Lions Departure ‘Best Move for Me & My Family’
A-to-Z Sports Detroit reporter Mike Payton observed that “the Lions benched Buggs to start the [2023] season” after the announcement of his release on January 2. Payton said, “He’s had intermittent bursts of playing time since then and he’s struggled to recapture the great play he ended 2022 with.”
After the departure became known on social media, Buggs posted a message on X.
He said, “Thank You Detroit for Everything🙌🏾But This Is The Best Decision For Myself And My Family❤️.” “To The Incredible Fans Of This Magnificent City of Detroit—It’s Been Incredible! We Are Appreciative Of Your Help Over The Last Two Years 🤝🏾 96 Out ‼️
The Lions farewell went viral with over 7.3K likes. On January 4, Buggs addressed Chiefs Kingdom for the first time, stating that he’s “Excited To Be Here🔥.”
Social Media Reaction to Isaiah Buggs Signing With Chiefs
Social media seems to respond favorably to the Buggs signing overall.
Sports from A to Z The move was dubbed a “trial run for the future” by Kansas City reporter Charles Goldman, who also noted that “Buggs could be a foundational piece on a Chiefs DL unit that could have a lot of new bodies in 2024.”
“Whoa! Fantastic news,” a KC fan said. “If he can help in the playoffs, this is a big signing. 👀👀👀”
Another person commented, “Chiefs got a good one,” and a third said, “Fantastic pickup.”
Ultimately, a Chiefs supporter said, “LFG!!” Isaiah Buggs, welcome to #ChiefsKingdom! We are happy to have you assist us in improving our defense.
In other news, there’s that. A number of Dallas Cowboys supporters seemed to be hoping for a Buggs signing this week.
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