Editors Note: Chiefly Bacon’s (CB’s) Lazy Big Board series is in it’s second year being offered here at ArrowheadOne by Ransom Hawthorne. A special thank you goes out to Ransom as he has become our resident draft prospect “Sage,” especially when it comes to low-round picks. Enjoy. ~Laddie Morse
The NFL Combine is over and the results of the prospect’s Pro Days are starting to roll in. That means it’s time for the Lazy Big Board. In case you weren’t around last year, I‘ll give you a quick synopsis of what that is. A Big Board is a value ranking of every player in the draft from first to last. Since I don’t have the kind of time you need to do that, I came up with the Lazy Big Board: a board that offers one pick at every position group in every round that the Kansas City Chiefs could take. While the Chiefs starters at ILB are set, for the moment, depth is still a need, and the nickel ILB spot could use a new starter.
Pick 54 ILB Leighton Vander-Esch 6’4” 256
Vander-Esch is a day one starter with speed, instincts and fluidity. Chiefs don’t need to wonder whether they should draft him, just if he’ll be available. I could certainly see Esch going earlier than Chiefs’ pick, but there are two things that work to their advantage. First, Esch is not as strong as he needs to be yet. While he’s nearly always in the right spot, you see him whiff on a few more tackles than you would like. This is not a technique issue, but a strength one. It’s easily corrected, and he should be a beast in his 2nd year, but it could negatively impact his production as a rookie (which should still be solid). The second thing is that Esch, while an excellent athlete, doesn’t possess special sideline to sideline speed. His speed is very adequate, but ILBs, who go in the first, are generally the guys who run a little faster than Esch. With the addittion of Hitchens, Chiefs won’t feel the need to address this position early, but they shouldn’t pass on talent, if it’s there.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.65 |
20 |
39.5” |
124” |
6.88 |
4.15 |
Pick 78 ILB Malik Jefferson 6′3” 236lbs
Jefferson is a special athlete, with blazing sideline to sideline speed. His potential is off the charts, but he’ll probably be available in the third round, because his play hasn’t matched his potential. Jefferson is a boom or bust type prospect who will either be a pro bowl ILB, in the future, or a career STs player. If Chiefs think their coaching staff can get through to Jefferson, than they could come away with a heck of a steal here. If they’re wrong, Toub gets a new toy and fans get a new whipping boy.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.52 |
27 |
36” |
125” |
None |
None |
Pick 86 ILB Tegray Scales 6′ 230lbs
Polar opposite of Jefferson. Pedestrian, athlete, but super instincts and plays hard every snap. Scales is an undersized ILB, who always winds up in the right place at the right time and finds a way to get the job done. I don’t think you want him in pass coverage, but, on obvious run downs, he’ll be an asset to your defense. High character guy, but he’ll have to earn his spot on STs with Chiefs starters set.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.77 |
27 |
None |
None |
None |
None |
Pick 122 ILB/SS Oren Burks 6‘3” 233lbs
A converted safety, Burks looks great in coverage. He’s still got a ways to go as a run defender, but could make an excellent nickle LB, or even see some action at SS. He’s a great athlete and a high character individual. Team captain, and recognized for his work in the community. Should offer some juice on STs if he takes a while to win a starting role. His explosion numbers are pretty eye popping.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.59 |
18 |
39.5” |
131” |
6.82 |
4.15 |
Pick 124 ILB Micah Kiser 6′2” 240lbs
Evaluations vary on Kiser, but he offers value as a SILB. Similar to Scales, his value comes from solid instincts, despite limited athleticism. Kiser has the size, strength, and demeanor, to log snaps as a run stuffer, but you probably don’t want to see him in coverage much. He’ll never be an elite starter, but he’s a quality depth guy and, in a less than stellar draft, Chiefs could do worse than selecting Kiser with their fourth round pick.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.66 |
None |
35.5” |
121” |
7.05 |
4.24 |
Pick 196 ILB/S Shaquem Griffen 6′1” 227lbs
One handed wonder, Shaquem Griffen will put you on your back if you feel sorry for him. Tries harder than anyone on the field and succeeds through a combination of elite athleticism and relentless effort. While he’s not big enough to be an every down starter at ILB, he’s a versatile player who can take snaps as a nickle LB and a SS. His missing hand is a significant disadvantage, but one I think he’s already proven he can overcome. If Chiefs had a 5th round pick, I’d take him there, since they don’t, I hope he lasts this long.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.38 |
20 |
None |
117” |
None |
None |
Pick 233 ILB Genard Avery 6′1” 248lbs
Avery hasn’t drawn a lot of attention, but he’s a quality prospect who’s a solid athlete. He was productive in college, albeit it against, mostly, less than stellar competition. He’s not quite as fluid as you’d like, but he’s not terrible either. Avery at the minimum, could be a solid backup and STs player, but he has the upside to be a future starter. If Griffen isn’t available in the 6th, Avery would be a solid option there.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.59 |
26 |
36” |
124” |
6.9 |
4.36 |
Pick 243 ILB Jacob Pugh 6′4” 232lbs
You don’t fall to the 7th round because you have great tape, and Pugh doesn’t. However, he’s enough of an athlete, and has plus height to be worth a shot. 7Th round picks rarely make it, but Pugh could land on the practice squad and wind up being a depth player next year.
|
40 Time |
Bench |
Vertical |
Broad |
3-Cone |
20 Shuttle |
|
4.65 |
None |
38.5” |
122” |
None |
None |
After the signing of Anthony Hitchens, my first choice would be Oren Burks. He has great upside and would be a positive addition to the locker room. While I’d like to see an ILB, Chiefs do have a number of options there, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they focused, more heavily, on DL and Secondary. If you don’t see your favorite player on this list, it doesn’t, necessarily, mean I don’t like them. It probably means that they rank in a bad spot value wise for the Chiefs. For example, Chiefs have the 124th pick and the 196th pick, a player ranked 168th, on a big board, would be a reach in the 4th, but wouldn’t fall to the 6th. Let me know who I missed in the comments section. Go Chiefs!
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