Chiefs Draft Solutions at LB

The day has finally arrived and it couldn’t come soon enough for me. This day means so much to so many different people associated with the NFL. For the throngs of Kansas City Chiefs fans, after the past few months of waiting, this day has meant the opportunity to solve the team’s Left Tackle vacancy… until last Friday. That’s when the Baltimore Ravens shipped massive Pro Bowl LT Orlando Brown to K.C.. Now, the events of this weekend will mean that the Chiefs can finally address several other positions of need, not the least of which is Linebacker.

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Ever since 4-time Pro Bowl LB, Derrick Johnson, left town, the Chiefs have not had a strong LB corp. With the addition of Willie Gay Jr. a year ago, plus the evolving play of Anthony Hitchens (who improved dramatically during the second half of the 2020 season), if GM Brett Veach can hone in on a starting quality LB (or two), then the Chiefs may be able to field a threesome who will rival the best they’ve put on the field in over 20 years. I’ll be satisfied if they’re not blah, like they’ve been the past few years. However, that remains to be seen. So, here are the Chiefs possible draft solutions at linebacker.

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When you say the word “Linebacker” you must first separate 4-3 LBs from 3-4 rush LBs. Since Chiefs DC, Steve Spagnuolo, runs a 4-3 as his base set, we’ll be looking at the former here. Here are several LBs Pro Day results and their 2020 season’s Total Tackles results, including those LBs who may end up being available at pick #58 or #63, and beyond.

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Top linebacker prospects, Micah Parsons, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and Zaven Collins, will all be gone by the time the Chiefs pick late in the 2nd round. Jamin Davis, out of Kentucky, has risen up the draft board over the past month and will also likely be unavailable. I’ll address him here, but only because there’s a slight chance he could still be there by the mid point of the 2nd round, in which case, if Veach decides to jump up to get him, that appears to be the only way I can see him becoming a K.C. Chief.

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My Prime Rib LB Picks

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Jamin Davis

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Davis has been a productive LB for the Kentucky Wildcats, but he’s still showing up at the mock generators late in the second and sometimes even in the 3rd round. However, that seems to be more a problem for the sites managing their generators than a true reflection of his value. Davis is a junior coming out early and has played in 25 games over the past three seasons generating 144 tackles. I haven’t been high on Davis because the tape available shows him making plays I would doubt he makes in the NFL. Plays like, spearing and not being called for it… or showing up to plays late (like Anthony Hitchens) which may reflect a player who trusts his speed more than his instincts, and if that continues, he’ll have a hard time adjusting at the pro level. However, his physical dominance is evident and he should go in the top 40, if not round one (see the 2nd video below).

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Jabril Cox

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Cox played for a small college first, North Dakota State, and was Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2018, before transferring to LSU and having a standout seasons last year. Part of my fascination with Cox is that he once played at Raytown South high school, so if K.C. could get a local product, it would be a double benefit.

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While Jamin Davis is much better against the run, Jabril Cox is superior against the pass and would help the Chiefs defense improve in coverage, a weakness for the Chiefs LBs in 2020. Cox is a more instinctual LB than Davis and deciphers plays in the flat quickly, flashing there and slipping blockers en route to RB’s coming out of the backfield. If Cox makes it to the mid 2nd round, I hope Veach trades up to get him as well.

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Cox can also defend the run…

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Baron Browning

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Kyle Crabbs at The Draft Network has this to share about Baron Browning:

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“Baron Browning is an enticing prospect when accounting for his dynamic athletic profile and flashes of production via splash plays throughout the course of his career at Ohio State. Browning has all of the physical skills needed to be a standout starter at the pro game, but his irregular play across multiple spots in the linebacker group during his time in Columbus has left some irregularities and inconsistencies in his game.”

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David Bell and I were just talking this past week about how the Chiefs were able to draft Willie Gay late in the second round because he had off field issues which dropped him low enough for Veach to swoop in an pick him up, and then we were lamenting that there doesn’t seem to be any LBs in this draft who fit that same scenario. While Browning does not have off field issues, the numbers I quoted above don’t tell you how well a player plays in coverage or how twitchy and quick they are. Look at the following clips and see for yourself:

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On the first play of this vid, that’s 6-foot-5 TE Pat Freiermuth from Penn State and Browning not only turns his head to find the ball in the air, but goes up high denying him the catch by batting he ball away. This clip also shows that he understands assignments in zone coverages when he moves off the man he’s lined up against, then makes a great play on a pass in the flat. On another play, he strips the ball then recovers it. The last play is against Alabama and he makes a great strip sack of Mac Jones.

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Baron Browning doesn’t run the fastest 40, but sometimes LBs are good because they have a high football IQ and play with instincts and twitchiness. That well describes Browning and I would be unhappy if Veach decides to welcome him to K.C..

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Cameron McGrone

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I’m a big Cameron McGrone fan. He makes great decisions and although he’s sometimes inconsistent, he makes up for it with his intuition and effort. Draft analyst, Tony Pauline, reveals the pluses and minuses of McGrone’s play, which includes:

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Positives: Explosive, forceful linebacker who is best defending the run. Quick to read and diagnose, physical, and takes proper angles to the action. Displays a good head for the ball, quickly locates the ball handler, and easily changes direction. Possesses an explosive closing burst, wraps up tackling, and brings opponents down in the open field. Gets depth on pass drops, displays solid footwork moving in any direction, and stays downfield with tight ends. Athletic. Sells out on the blitz.

Negatives: Shows a lot of inconsistency in pursuit. Not a big-bodied linebacker. Marginal production in coverage.”

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Pauline also says McGrone is, “a fierce defender with great explosion…” which is also what I see when I watch his tape. As was pointed out to me recently, McGrone is probably not big enough tp be an every down LB for the 17 game schedule rigors of the regular season. Also, at 6-foot-0, he won’t offer the best height in coverage of taller TEs in the league.

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Ryan Tracy at RGR Football doesn’t have Cameron McGrone ranked on his big board in the first 4 rounds, but if Brett Veach takes a speedy coverage LB earlier in the draft, I can see him double-dipping at LB and taking McGrone in the later rounds and he cane serve as Hitchens understudy for the next year or two..

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Conclusion

You may notice I didn’t cover MU’s Nick Bolton and it’s precisely because I don’t favor his size and speed combination, plus he doesn’t do enough to overcome those deficiencies. Consequently, he doesn’t appear to be a fit for the Chiefs. Let me know if there’s a LB who you hope the Chiefs take over the weekend.

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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