Kansas City Chiefs Ransom Hawthorne

The Lazy Big Board: Chiefs Targets at MIKE LB

Ransom Hawthorne April 13, 2019 No Comments

The Lazy Big Board: Chiefs

Targets at MIKE LB

by Ransom Hawthorne | April 13, 2019

Despite reports that Ragland could play Mike, I think Hitchens is going to start there. Chiefs certainly hope Hitchens improves, drastically, in this new scheme, as he’s un-cuttable, till 2021, and even then, you don’t save much. Even if he proves to be solid, that was probably the worst contract of Veach’s young career. It is what it is. Until he proves, without a doubt, that he can’t play the Mike, like they want him to, he’ll be the starter. With other major needs, and a fairly weak class, at the position, I don’t see Chiefs targeting Mike linebacker types, in the first two rounds.

Pick 29, 61, or 63 – None

 

Pick #92 MIKE Linebacker

Joe Giles-Harris, Duke 6‘2” 240 lbs: Instinctive, physical MIKE. Excellent tackler. Sees the play develop very well. Always in the right place, at the right time. Pedestrian athlete, who is what he is. Should be ready to play, competently, right away, but upside is limited. In a weak class, if you take a guy, this high, he’ll either be an athlete with no instincts, or a player with little athleticism. Give me the sure thing over the someday starter.

40 Time

Bench

Vertical

Broad

3-Cone

20 Shuttle

4.75

17

29.5”

111

None

None

Pick 167 MIKE Linebacker

Tre Watson, Maryland 6‘ 2” 235 lbs: Physical tackler, and a ball hawk. Shows the ability to sift through traffic, but isn’t great at getting off blocks. A little undersized, for a Mike, but could be a good option, particularly on passing downs, thanks to sure tackling, and quality zone coverage.

40 Time

Bench

Vertical

Broad

3-Cone

20 Shuttle

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Pick #201 MIKE Linebacker

Dakota Allen, Texas Tech 6′1” 232 lbs: Good downhill LB with fluidity, in zone coverage. Lacks sideline to sideline speed. Makes plays predetermined for him, but may struggle to read and react. Likely special teams player who can be solid in some areas, but requires significant development in others. Lack of straight line speed will always be a bit of limiter, for him.

40 Time

Bench

Vertical

Broad

3-Cone

20 Shuttle

4.77

23

31.5”

116”

6.88

4.04

Pick #214 or #216 MIKE Linebacker

Tre Lamar, Clemson 6’3” 253 lbs: Big, physical, straight line thumper. Run down only player, due to limited athleticism, but he can thrive, in that role. Players of his type aren’t valued, much, in the NFL, today, which is why he’s available so late. Might not ever be more than a STs player, who logs 10% of snaps, a game, in goal-line situations, or 3rd and short, but he can be productive, in that role. If Chiefs are serious about using Reggie Ragland as the Mike, at times, Lamar makes good sense as a backup, there.

40 Time

Bench

Vertical

Broad

3-Cone

20 Shuttle

None

None

None

None

None

None

With Hitchens as a potential starter, and Ragland, as a depth guy, Chiefs could ignore the Mike spot, but picking up some quality depth wouldn’t be a bad route to go, in the later rounds. I’d like to see Tre Watson out of Maryland. The NFL is a passing league. Getting some better coverage linebackers should be a priority, going forward.

MIKE Linebacker Honorable Mention

Germaine Pratt: Pratt is a stellar athlete, and what you look for, trait wise, in a LB. He’s also a converted safety whose lack of instincts make him appear much slower, than he is. To pick him, you have to believe he can take quickly to coaching. Whether Chiefs draft him will depend on his interviews. Since I don’t have access, to those, I can’t put him on the board. If he does interview well, he could be a 3rd round pick, with some serious upside.

Ransom Hawthorne — ArrowheadOne

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