Can the Chiefs replace Dontari Poe in the NFL Draft?

The 2017 Kansas City Chiefs are poised to return almost every single key player from their 2016 division winning roster with one very large exception, Dontari Poe. While Jamaal Charles is the biggest name that the Chiefs have parted ways with, the fact is that he was a non-factor on the field in 2016. Poe on the other hand has been a staple of the defense since he first arrived in Kansas City. While I think most KC fans would love to have Poe back, his price tag makes that unlikely given the Chiefs limited cap space and when you add in that he’s a 350 pound man with some history of back issues it makes him a risky investment even if they had the cap space. So now the Chiefs are left to try and figure out how to replace his presence on the field in 2017. It could be that they replace his snaps with veterans already on the roster, they could look to add a veteran free agent, or they could look to draft someone in the upcoming NFL draft.

The Chiefs already have three starting caliber defensive linemen in Chris Jones, Jaye Howard, and Allen Bailey. All three of those players are more 3-4 defensive ends than true nose tackles. Jaye Howard is probably built the most like a nose tackle but even he is undersized for the position. Bailey is a physical run stuffer but probably doesn’t even hit 300 pounds on the scale. Chris Jones is likely the best overall player of the three but he’s more of a penetrator and disruptor than a gap filler. Rakeem Nunez-Roches also flashed some ability last season, but he’s also not a run stuffer as much as he is a penetrator. They did recently sign Montori Hughes to a futures deal. He’s listed at 6’4″ and 350 pounds but despite his nose tackle build he hasn’t been able to see the field much at all in his first four NFL seasons.

The Chiefs could also look for a cheap free agent addition to the roster once the initial rush of high dollar contracts finally subsides. Two former Jacksonville Jaguars could be options (Sen’Derrick Marks and Roy Miller) if the price is right. That having been said, its clear that the Chiefs aren’t going to spend much in free agency so if those type of players get much interest and the price tags get too high it may be that the NFL Draft is the only remaining option for the Chiefs to add a player to help fill the sizable void left from Poe’s departure.

The 2017 NFL Draft has a pretty deep pool of talented defensive linemen, but as you really begin scouting them you see that the actual number of prospects that could play the nose in the NFL is fairly limited. The Chiefs could look to add another talented defensive lineman in the first round but that player likely wouldn’t be someone that would help them stuff the run in the base defense. Guys like Michigan State’s Malik McDowell, Florida’s Caleb Brantley, and Auburn’s Montravius Adams (just to name a few) could be considered but (generally speaking) they profile as players that are more like Jaye Howard or Chris Jones. The Chiefs have those guys already. Yes, more talented players to use in rotation are great, but my concern is who is going to plug the middle in the base defense on clear running downs?

So are there prospects that could play a true nose tackle position in this draft?

There aren’t many, but here are three that I think that the Chiefs may want to consider.