This week we’ll continue taking a look at several prospects invited to the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. You can find the full list of players attending the event here. We’ll take a look at a healthy dose of both offensive and defensive players and identify those that could be a fit for the Chiefs.
I have identified over 170 prospects for the 2019 draft that I believe could be potential fits for the Kansas City Chiefs. I’ll be releasing mini scouting reports on these prospects in random groups of five up until the draft.
Ty Summers LB TCU
Linebacker might not be at the forefront of everyone’s mind, but the Chiefs need improvements there as well. They might not draft someone to be a starter right away, but if things don’t turn around for Anthony Hitchens, they’ll need to make a change.
The Big 12 isn’t often known for it’s defenders. Very few of them are actually attending the NFL scouting combine. Ty Summers is one that’s good enough to be in attendance. He appears to be an adaptable piece for a defense. At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds he has size that can be utilized at each of the linebacker positions in a 4-3 defense. He’s played middle, strong, and weakside linebacker at TCU. He’s even played some defensive end before.
The most impressive parts of Summers’ game are his quickness and mental processing. In man coverage he doesn’t give up much ground and has the length to contest throws. In zone drops he reads the eyes of the quarterback very well and lets them lead him to the play.
Those traits also translate to his ability against the run or as a blitzer. He’s got a keen understanding for gap discipline and knowing where the ball carrier will go with the football. He doesn’t just wait for him to get there either, he’ll attack the running lane and get into the backfield often. He’s totaled 23.5 tackles for loss over his four year career.
Summers is currently projected as a day three pick, and he’d be a solid value for the Chiefs when they first come on the clock if he’s still available.
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Chuma Edoga OT USC
The offensive line of the Chiefs is about as solid a group as it’s been since the early 2000’s. Now that the Chiefs have finally found a franchise quarterback, they’ll need to do a good job ensuring his continued protection. A year from now Eric Fisher will have an out year in his contract, and Mitchell Schwartz will be in the final year of his deal. In the course of two seasons, the Chiefs could be looking to add new bookends with cost-cutting in mind.
Edoga helped himself with an incredible week of practice at left tackle down at the Senior Bowl. He showed off some great footwork, above average play strength, and stood up against some of the top tier talent in this class. He showed off equal success as a run blocker as he did a pass protector. He had one rep during the Senior Bowl game where he carried a block at least 10 yards down the field.
Edoga’s experience is primarily at right tackle, but I think you could play this kid at either spot and he’d get the job done. Edoga is currently in consideration for the second day of the draft, but he’s a bit more athletic than you’d expect. If you watch him move and handle blocks in space, you get the feeling he’ll impress in some of the drills at the combine. That will only help push up his draft stock. Perhaps the Chiefs will draft with an eye on the future at this position.
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Hamp Cheevers CB Boston College
The Chiefs will likely lose two corners to free agency. It was already a thin position group for them. Short of banking on development of younger players, they’ll likely need to add a few new bodies into the mix. If they can’t get one with their first round pick, they’ll likely look for some bargains in the middle rounds.
Not only does Hamp Cheevers have one of the best names in the draft, but he’s got a great skill set at the corner position. He has quickness to close and the range to recover when beat. He’s got great ball skills, recording seven interceptions during the 2018 season, which was also good for a share of the most in FBS football.
When Cheevers reads a play and see’s what’s coming, he’s unafraid to stick his nose in and make a tackle. Some of his hits are so vicious that you’d expect he was playing safety.
Cheevers is still a relative unknown and many in the media don’t consider him among the top-100 prospects in this draft class. With a good Combine performance, he could potentially get consideration on day two of the NFL draft.
Steve Spagnuolo wants his defense to be one of the reasons that the Chiefs win football games. Creating turnovers is going to be a huge part of that, and Cheevers had more turnovers in 2018 than any other corner in this class.
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Kendall Blanton TE Mizzou
The Chiefs have tried to improve their tight end depth in the past. In 2015 they selected James O’Shaugnessy in the fifth round. They’ve spent time attempting to develop players like Ross Travis, but they still seemingly end up going back to Demetrius Harris as TE2. With pockets getting tight in Kansas City, re-signing Harris may no longer be an option.
This draft class has plenty of intriguing tight ends, including one from Blue Springs, Missouri. He also happens to be the son of former Chiefs linebacker Jerry Blanton.
Kendall Blanton didn’t go too far for college. He went to the University of Missouri, but during his time there he was often overshadowed by his teammate Albert Okwuegbunam. Blanton is a better athlete than he gets credit for, Down at the Senior Bowl, he showed off his athleticism during the practice week. He has a chance to build on that performance at the Combine.
As a route runner, Blanton is sudden out of his breaks, which gives him a nice advantage on smaller safeties. He’s got the hands and awareness to catch tight window throws. He’s also a very good blocker who can line up in-line, on the wings, and pull across the formation.
Blanton may not hear his name called until day three, but he could turn into one of the best value players to come out of the entire 2019 draft.
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Maxx Crosby EDGE Eastern Michigan
It’s seeming more and more likely that the Chiefs will be forced to part with either Justin Houston or Dee Ford. The Chiefs will likely play Breeland Speaks opposite whomever they keep. If one of those two players is injured, Tanoh Kpassagnon is currently the only edge rusher under contract that’s played in an NFL game. The Chiefs have a need to add competitive depth at that position.
Maxx Crosby is the definition of a sleeper in this edge class. He plays for Eastern Michigan in the MAC conference, which is often seen as a weaker conference. Sutton Smith is the darling of that conference in this draft because of his sack numbers, but Crosby’s size (6-foot-4 and 265 pounds) is more likely to translate to the NFL game.
Crosby has shown the ability to win the edge in a variety of different ways. His repertoire includes power, speed, long arm, swim moves, hop steps, club and arm over moves. He’s got a huge variety to work with, and as soon as he wins, he has the length wrap up the quarterback.
In the NFL, Crosby may get in trouble with his ability to get into the backfield. The same way Chris Jones likes to anticipate and blow up the play, but instead ends up taking himself out of the play. Sometimes patience is key and I can see Crosby get overzealous at times.
With the depth of this edge rushing class, Crosby could be available into the middle to late rounds of the draft. If the Chiefs are looking for a bargain at pass rusher after loading up on secondary talent, Crosby could be an interesting target.
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