Could one of the most talented defensive linemen in the draft be available when the Chiefs come on the clock in the first round?
Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat has been on the rise throughout the pre-draft process. His 2018 season solidified him as one of the top edge rushers in this years class. It earned him an invitation to play at the Senior Bowl, where he was a standout performer. Once he got to the combine it was no different. He put up a 4.41 40-yard dash measuring in at 6-6 and over 250 pounds. That type of time places him in the top percentile among athletes to ever play the defensive end position.
The combine wasn’t all good for Sweat, though. Doctors discovered a pre-existing heart condition while undergoing standard medical testing during the combine. Despite these findings, Sweat was still allowed to participate in combine drills.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network recently reported that despite Sweat being cleared by doctors at the combine, teams are wary of this heart condition. Some teams have taken him off the draft board, while others have discussed how they can manage this heart condition.
Additionally, speculation on Sweat’s potential draft-day fall has become even more rampant now that it’s been announced he’ll no longer attend the draft in Nashville, Tennessee. So if the potential slide of Sweat is true, is there any chance that he could be available for the Chiefs at pick No. 29?
During the 2018 NFL draft, a heart condition sent former Michigan DT Maurice Hurst into free fall. He was once considered a first round pick and ended up drafted by the Raiders in the fifth round. It worked out pretty well for the Raiders, who got a solid starter out of Hurst.
In the 2019 NFL draft, the Raiders pick three times before the Chiefs come on the clock in the first round. Could they perhaps target him with one of their three picks? The Raiders also just sent all the scouts home who helped make the Hurst decision in 2018. It’s hard to tell what they’re planning to do.
If Sweat begins to slide in the first round, the Chiefs may need to consider moving up to acquire him before a rival team decides to do the same. It’s also possible that the Chiefs may be content with passing on Sweat amid concerns over his heart condition. That would be a decision that could strike ire into a fan base that is still concerned over the decisions to release Justin Houston and trade Dee Ford.
It’s unclear what will happen with all of this quite yet, but this is definitely something to monitor come April 25th.
