The Kansas City Chiefs had two players depart from their 2019 linebacker group in free agency.
They still have Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson, but they suddenly find themselves lacking depth at the position. They’ve made it known that they’re interested in adding a coverage linebacker and with free-agent options dried up, that leaves the 2020 NFL draft.
Looking to the future, they could also use some upgrades at the position behind Hitchens, and Wilson is only under contract for one more season. It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to see the Chiefs add multiple players at this position. Here’s a look at some of the players they could consider adding in each round of the 2020 NFL draft:
Round 1: LSU LB Patrick Queen
Early in the 2019 season, Queen wasn’t even a starter. Even in the weeks leading up to the national title game, he wasn’t considered a first-round pick in most mock drafts. Queen has seen a monumental rise largely because of his quickness, range and processing speed.
He’s not quite on par with former LSU teammate Devin White in terms of athleticism, but he isn’t a bad athlete. His 4.5 40-yard dash at the combine was fourth in the class. It’s even more impressive when you consider that he only had one attempt because he pulled a hamstring the first time around.
Queen would probably start out as a seek-and-destroy WILL linebacker in the Chiefs’ scheme. At 6-foot and 229 pounds, he’s a good size for that role too. He can keep up with running backs out of the backfield and play the overhang. Grabbing a player like this at pick No. 32 would be a good move by Kansas City.
Round 2: Texas Tech LB Jordyn Brooks
Patience is probably Brooks’ best trait. He doesn’t get out of position often and he’s very efficient once he identifies the play. His burst and click-to-close are among the most impressive in this linebacker class. When tasked with handling the quarterback as a spy or on a blitz, he won’t let you down. He’s also great at finding his way through the offensive line to make tackles for loss.
Brooks probably isn’t the coverage linebacker the Chiefs are looking for. That’s not to say he can’t cover, but he wasn’t asked to do much of it at Texas Tech. What Spags will undoubtedly love about Brooks is his ability to rush the passer.
Round 3: Wyoming LB Logan Wilson
Wilson is the biggest linebacker we’ve looked at so far, listed at 6-2 and 240 pounds. He’s been the defensive leader at Wyoming since his freshman season, earning Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors. He calls all the plays on the defensive side of the ball for the Cowboys and was the leading tackler for the team in both his sophomore and junior seasons.
Wilson could definitely be the coverage linebacker the Chiefs are looking for. As a former safety, his coverage skills are more developed than others in this class. He’s recorded a total of 10 interceptions and 14 passes defended during his four-year career with the Cowboys.
Round 4: Colorado LB Davion Taylor
If the Chiefs miss out on Patrick Queen, Taylor is basically the budget version. They share very similar athletic profiles, listed at 6-foot and 229 pounds, running a 4.5 40-yard dash, and both had over 125-inch broad jumps. He’s raw compared to Queen, but with a little bit of coaching, he has just as much potential in the NFL.
Taylor can definitely scoot with the best of them, showing great speed. He’s a solid player in coverage, with the ability to carry routes in man and zone. I like how he matches up and plays against big slot receivers and tight ends. He’s also quick to react and he has a penchant for big hits.
Round 5: Illinois LB Dele Harding
Harding is a player that many probably aren’t familiar with. He is one of the few players that didn’t get invited to the combine that has a shot to get drafted because his pro day happened before the COVID-19 shutdowns. The Chiefs also happened to be in attendance for that pro day.
Harding had a crazy senior season for the Illini with 154 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns. He’s got great range, athleticism and he’s universally underrated. Turn him loose against the run or the pass and you won’t regret it. He’s the definition of a draft steal and he’d instantly upgrade the linebacker corp for Kansas City.
Round 6: Wake Forest LB Justin Strnad
Strnad has good size at 6-3 and 238 pounds. He’s a very instinctive and intelligent player that puts up his best effort on every snap. He has surprising range and explosion on tape at Wake Forest, especially given his athletic testing numbers at the combine.
Strnad seems like a prime target in the sixth round and I don’t see him going much earlier because he had a torn bicep tendon in October. He also ran a 4.74 40-yard dash at the combine, which is on the slower side. No matter the problems, Strnad is the type of player that seems to come up with some big moments for his team.
Round 7: Purdue LB Markus Bailey
I’d be much higher on Bailey, but the circumstances surrounding this draft have me less comfortable about players with injury histories. Teams haven’t had the opportunity to bring guys like Bailey in for medicals or go to them for workouts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bailey, of course, has two serious knee injuries during his time at Purdue.
Before his latest injury, Bailey was a player that showed impressive range and excellent instincts in zone coverage. He’s one of those players that always manages to be around the football and he’s a clear leader on the field. This is a guy that you want on your football team, I just worry that teams won’t have enough information to feel comfortable drafting him until later.
