Drue Tranquill

Career StatsB

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		96	574	15.0	1
2025		17	103	2.0	0
2024		16	94	2.0	0
2023		16

Season	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT	PD	Grade
2025		17	103	2.0	0	—	C+ C+ Top 48% — above average
2024		16	94	2.0	0	—	C- C- Below average
2023		16	79	4.5	0	—	D D Bottom 20%
2022		17	146	5.0	1	—	B+ B+ Top 20%
2021		14	76	1.5	0	—	D D Bottom 20%
2019		15	75	0.0	0	—	D D Bottom 20%

Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Among LB contracts at this AAV tier, Drue Tranquill grades a B Contract Value Index. The grade reflects solid performance—he logged 103 tackles and 2 sacks across 17 games in 2025—paired with a $3.5M annual value that positions him as a depth-caliber linebacker on a one-year deal, a realistic market rate for a veteran role player entering his age-30 season. At this price point, Kansas City is paying for experience and locker-room stability rather than franchise-level production, which aligns with the linebacker market where above-average starters typically command $6M+ annually and true edge-setting pass rushers fetch premium dollars. The CVI reflects Tranquill's seven-year resume and respectable on-field contributions, but the contract structure itself—a restructure designed to keep salary manageable while reducing commitment—signals the organization's hedging on his long-term value rather than a vote of confidence in sustained deployment. Media framing and recent roster moves underscore this calculus: with the Chiefs pivoting toward depth signings at safety, cornerback, and running back while younger linebackers like Leo Chenal emerge as the SAM frontrunner, Tranquill has shifted from cornerstone presence to contingency plan, a narrative that the CVI appropriately captures. The one-year term limits downside exposure and allows Kansas City flexibility to pivot next offseason, making this a pragmatic deal for a team in evaluation mode at 6-11 and searching for answers across multiple positions.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Drue's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Drue Tranquill is a seven-year veteran linebacker who has carved out a legitimate starting role in Kansas City's defense after years of proving himself as a high-motor, instinctive run-stopper. Earning a B overall grade, he sits comfortably in the upper tier of starting linebackers across the league. His trajectory — improving from a C in 2023 to a C+ in 2024 to a B- in 2025 — reflects genuine development entering his age-30 season. Tranquill's most compelling attribute is his run-stopping productivity, posting 6.06 tackles per game against an NFL average of just 2.19, putting him near the elite threshold of 7.32. His tackles-for-loss rate of 0.76 per game actually exceeds the elite benchmark of 0.75, making him one of the most disruptive linebackers in the run game. The concern lies in coverage, where his 0.06 pass deflections per game falls well short of the 0.18 NFL average, limiting his versatility in today's pass-heavy league. His sack production of 0.12 per game also trails the 0.15 NFL average, meaning opposing offenses aren't schematically threatened by his pass-rush presence. At 30, Tranquill is unlikely to become a three-down coverage linebacker, but his elite run-defense skills give him a clearly defined and valuable role. On a Chiefs defense that prioritizes assignment discipline, his reliability against the run is a genuine asset worth monitoring deep into the postseason. If his pass deflection numbers trend upward, a B or higher grade is well within reach next season.

How Drue Compares at the Position

Drue Tranquill ranks 53rd of 338 graded linebackers by performance. That slots Drue between Tyrel Dodson (B) just ahead and Devin White (B) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Drue Tranquill enters 2026 as a reliable depth linebacker and rotational contributor for Kansas City, with media perception reflecting his role as a solid role player rather than a star. Recent headlines indicate the Chiefs remain invested in his services—evidenced by a contract restructure—though he operates in a competitive linebacker room where emerging talent like Leo Chenal represents organizational priority. An injury report from recent competition is a minor concern but does not suggest long-term durability issues or a decline in standing. Tranquill's media presence is largely neutral, focused on his observations of draft prospects and defensive personnel rather than individual performance accolades or criticism. Overall, fan and media perception aligns with his status as a dependable veteran backup: valued for experience and locker-room presence, but not a focal point of franchise expectations heading into 2026.