Can the Chiefs replace Dontari Poe in the NFL Draft?

D.J. Jones – Ole Miss – 6-foot-1 – 319 pounds – 32 1/2″ arms
5.04 forty, 25 bench press reps, 28.5″ vertical, 7.73 three cone

In some ways Mississippi’s D.J. Jones is kind of like a poor man’s Dontari Poe. Jones is an athletic nose tackle who has some of the physical tools needed but didn’t exactly rack up a lot of stats or big plays in college. Now, he’s not near as big as Poe and he didn’t bench press anywhere near what Poe did. Still, a 319 pound nose tackle running a 5.04 forty shows he can really move for a big man (Poe ran 4.98). He isn’t yet the sum of his physical parts, but much like the Chiefs coaching staff changed Poe from a combine workout warrior into a Pro Bowl caliber defensive tackle, perhaps they could do the same for Jones.

There isn’t a ton of film available on Jones either so like Tu’ikolovatu you have to do some digging through other players film to get much footage of Jones. When you do you see a guy that shows both strength and speed with the build of a true nose tackle. Again, he doesn’t make a ton of plays, so this guy is a project but the Chiefs have a coaching staff that I trust and believe in. If any team can turn Jones into a productive NFL contributor I think it could be the Chiefs. They shouldn’t have to invest a high pick in order to land Jones either so there isn’t a ton of risk involved either.

So what do you think Addicts? Do you think the Chiefs need to invest in a true nose tackle with Poe gone or do you think they can fill his snaps with the guys already on the roster? If not, would you rather they go the free agent or draft route to replace him? Finally, if they do draft a replacement do you like any of these three guys as options? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

As always, thanks for reading and GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!