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

Haason Reddick – Temple – 6’1″ – 237 pounds

Before the Senior Bowl I would have had Temple’s Haason Reddick as a possibility for the Chiefs in the second round. In fact, before the Senior Bowl I would have still had serious questions about Reddick’s ability to play inside linebacker in the NFL after being primarily an edge player in college. While Reddick could excel on the edge in college at 6’1″ and 237 pounds that obviously won’t be an option in the NFL. However, Reddick displayed on tape many abilities that would translate to a good 3-4 inside linebacker. He’s an outstanding athlete who has fluid movement skills and a nose for the ball carrier.

He walked on at Temple and really developed over time from a walk on freshman to a dominant force as a senior with 22.5 tackles for loss. What I like best is that for an edge player he seems to have top notch vision and change of direction. He works his way through the garbage in pursuit of the ball carrier and has explosive acceleration once he sets his eyes on a target.

At the Senior Bowl Reddick was given the chance to play linebacker and responded well. In fact, Mike Mayock had him at the top of his list of players that stood out in practice. There is some risk with Reddick given his lack of experience at the position but there is also considerable upside. I think a lot will come down to Reddick’s individual workouts with teams. If the Chiefs like what they see with him I wouldn’t hate the idea of taking him in the first round. He could also be a prime target should the Chiefs do what they did last year when they moved back into the early second round and took Chris Jones.

I don’t think Reddick will make it to the Chiefs second round pick but if they do want to take an inside linebacker with their second round pick there is one guy that I think they might want to consider.