Can the Chiefs replace Dontari Poe in the NFL Draft?

Elijah Qualls – Washington – 6-foot-1 – 313 pounds – 30 5/8″ arms
5.13 forty, 33 bench press reps, 31.5″ vertical, 7.65 three cone

Washington’s Elijah Qualls may not be built like a prototypical nose tackle but there is no denying his power. If you watch his game tape you see a player that is a powerful force inside. He backed that up at the combine with 33 bench press reps which tied for second most amongst the defensive linemen. So he has the power needed inside against the run both on tape and in the weight room. His height (6-foot-1) is actually ideal for the nose tackle spot. You want a player that can win the leverage battle inside and if you put someone 6-foot-6 at the nose they can sometimes let shorter guards and centers get underneath their pads and move them. Ideally you want someone shorter and stockier that can keep low and win that leverage battle.

Qualls weight of 313 pounds is obviously lighter than Dontari Poe, but he does have enough bulk on his frame to plug holes inside. Honestly, the biggest problem with Qualls from a physical stature standpoint is his short arms. At 30 5/8 inches he may struggle to keep lineman off of his body. That having been said, the reason Qualls is a higher rated prospect than the next two players on this list is because he’s put up a lot of productive tape. He may not be a pass rush force, but he plays with athleticism and attacks opposing ball carriers with force. He’s a handful for opposing linemen to deal with.

Here is a snippet from Lance Zierlein’s profile at NFL.com:

"Has broad, thick hips. Possesses low center of gravity and plays with natural leverage. Has ability to control point of attack. Powerful upper body and can land a strong punch that sets a winning leverage point. Former high school fullback with nimble feet and surprising athleticism for his size."

I believe that if the Chiefs can improve his technique and get good effort out of him that Qualls could be a force inside as early as his rookie season. His limited size will likely keep him from ever being an elite player and he wouldn’t stay on the field as much as Poe did, but if they just need a strong force inside to help them on rushing downs I think Qualls could be an option in the second or third round.