NFL Draft 2017: Chiefs, Seahawks check out Montana defensive end
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs were one of eight teams in attendance at the University of Montana’s Pro Day earlier this week.
The University of Montana isn’t exactly a football mecca by any means, but they’ve certainly had their share of NFL Draft prospects over the years. Eight NFL teams were in attendance at the school’s Pro Day to check out a handful of pro hopefuls. The franchises present included the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.
The highlight is defensive end Caleb Kidder, a 6-5, 269 lb. prospect who received a significant amount of attention from the Seahawks and Chiefs. Per NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline, Kidder recorded a 40-yard dash time of 4.72 seconds, 30 reps in the bench press and “solid marks” in other athletic drills. You can see all Pro Day results here.
"The Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks put him through a battery of drills, asking Kidder to backpedal and move in space. Kidder also met with the Green Bay Packers today."
Kidder will bring some versatility to the pro level after shifting from defensive tackle earlier in his career to defensive end this last year. As a tackle, he registered 82 tackles, including 10 for a loss, and 3.5 sacks. Kidder had 55 tackles this season after shifting to defensive end, with 11 of those going for a loss and 5.5 sacks. He made the second team All-Big Sky Conference in 2016 and the first team in 2015.
The Chiefs should be looking for an infusion of youth along the defense line at this point. Dontari Poe just walked and his replacement, Bennie Logan, just signed on a one-year deal. Jaye Howard is entering a contract year, and Allen Bailey is returning from injury and nearing the end of his extension as well. Chris Jones is a dynamo at defensive end and projects to be one of the NFL’s best young players, but apart from him, there’s little in the way of developmental talent. Rakeem Nunez-Roches has flashed intermittently as a big body in the middle, but that’s nothing for John Dorsey to hang his hat on.
It makes sense for the Chiefs to add a couple players for the sake of competition here to compete with the guys already in house from reserve/futures deals, like Montori Hughes. Kidder would certainly fit as a potential late flyer to add to the mix and compete in camp if the Chiefs like what they see.