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Can the Chiefs replace Dontari Poe in the NFL Draft?

By Lyle Graversen

Oct 26, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe (92) congratulates defensive end Allen Bailey (97) after Bailey's sack of St. Louis Rams quarterback Austin Davis (9) (not pictured) during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe (92) congratulates defensive end Allen Bailey (97) after Bailey's sack of St. Louis Rams quarterback Austin Davis (9) (not pictured) during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Mike Fafaul (12) is pressured by USC Trojans defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (96) in the second quarter of the game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Mike Fafaul (12) is pressured by USC Trojans defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (96) in the second quarter of the game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Stevie Tu’ikolovatu – USC – 6-foot-1 – 331 pounds – 33″ arms
5.45 forty, 28 bench press reps, 24.5″ vertical, 7.83 three cone

If I was going to pick one player for the Chiefs to draft to help replace Dontari Poe it would be USC’s Stevie Tu’ikolovatu. Before I start signing his praises let me acknowledge a couple of his major shortcomings. First, he won’t be a player that plays on all three downs. He is a run stuffing specialist. Period. The other major deterrent is that Tu’ikolovatu will turn twenty-six before his rookie season even starts. That is because of the two year mission he did while at Utah. So Tu’ikolovatu is already a full grown man as opposed to a 21 year old that a team can still develop into the player that they want them to be.

So why am I so high on the Chiefs spending a mid round pick on the USC nose tackle? Because he fits what KC needs most. Stevie (sorry, its just easier than spelling out his last name over and over) is a true run stuffing nose tackle with the mass and strength to plug holes in the middle of the field. Unfortunately, there isn’t any tape specifically for him on either Draftbreakdown.com (a great resource) or Youtube. However, if you look up other USC defensive players or offensive players for opposing teams you can still find plenty of game tape showing big number 96 in action.

Even against teams like Alabama and Stanford you can see him hold his ground and even create push against quality offensive lines. If you don’t want to take my word for it check out the following tweets from Pro Football Focus College:

This is a big bodied run stuffer that should be able to step in and contribute right away. That is why he is at the top of my list of nose tackles for the Chiefs to consider.

Finally, I have one more mid to late round option.

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