2017 NFL Draft: Inside linebacker targets for the Chiefs to consider

Jarrad Davis – Florida – 6’2″ – 238 pounds

While Zach Cunningham is a tall, rangy linebacker, Jarrad Davis is more of a scrappy bulldog in the middle of the field. It’s not that Davis doesn’t possess good speed and athleticism, he does. He also possesses decent vision, just not on the level of Cunningham. The plus side is that while Cunningham looks like he may lack the power desired on day one of his NFL career, that doesn’t seem to be a problem for Davis. He explodes into ball carriers and plays with an ultra competitive chip on his shoulder. I can’t imagine a defensive coordinator that wouldn’t love to have someone that competes like Davis does on his squad.

Davis is a little smaller than a typical NFL inside linebacker but unlike Cunningham he doesn’t look short on NFL caliber power coming out of college. If I was going to pinpoint his greatest weakness I would have to say that he is sometimes too aggressive. While Davis possesses good vision and instincts he can sometimes over pursue a play or bite on a fake or misdirection and run himself out of a play. A clever offensive coordinator or veteran quarterback will likely expose Davis a couple of times per game early in his career.

Like Cunningham, I wouldn’t call Davis a great coverage linebacker, but he is good enough to stay on the field for all three downs. I should also point out that most scouting reports mentions what a good leader he is on and off the field. It sounds like Davis is very coachable and a natural leader. That is the make up of a guy that the Chiefs would draft. For all these reasons I think Davis could be a possibility in the first round for Kansas City.

Next, one last first round wild card.