Top-30 visits are still underway as the 2019 NFL draft quickly approaches.
The Chiefs have shown quite a bit of interest in off-ball linebackers during their pre-draft visits. They previously hosted Emeke Egbule and Sione Takitaki. Now we can throw another name into the hat for the Chiefs. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, North Carolina LB Cole Holcomb was in Kansas City for a visit just last week.
It was part of his busy schedule of visits for Holcomb following a tremendous pro day workout where he ran 4.4 40-yard dash, 132 inch broad jump, 6.77 3-Cone, and 4.18 short shuttle. At 6-foot-1 and 234 pounds, that puts Holcomb as one of the most athletic linebackers to ever reach the NFL. Those are the types of numbers you’d expect from defensive back or receiver, not a linebacker.
After such a performance at Holcomb’s pro day, teams are going go back to the tape and do more research on the player. The Chiefs bringing him in suggests that the team did more research and were intrigued by what they found. He’s got good statistics and plenty of playing experience as a three-year starter. Sometimes it simply takes good athletic testing for prospects to pop in the pre-draft process.
In 2020 the Chiefs could be looking at a vastly different linebacker group. They’ve got expiring contracts and a pricey player with an out year in his contract. There is not much proven depth behind them either. Adding a player like Holcomb to develop behind the group the Chiefs have right now wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Chiefs.
