NFL Draft: How the Kansas City Chiefs can build an elite front seven

The Kansas City Chiefs have made it clear that the front seven of the defense is a priority this offseason.

The Chiefs have made several attempts to bolster the front half of the defense since free agency began. The biggest move came with the signing of Bennie Logan from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Logan represents a replacement for free agent Dontari Poe, especially against the run. Logan is well-suited to man the middle in the base 3-4 defense. Despite speculation that a rotation, or even Chris Jones, would be the plan for the nose tackle. In reality, Bennie Logan will fill that bill. Jones is best left farther outside at the 5-technique in the base and the 3-technique in the nickel. Jones’s skills would be wasted as a 0-technique nose tackle.

Logan will give the Chiefs a starting nose tackle who will then give way to Jones and a combination of Jaye Howard, Allen Bailey, Logan and Rakeem Nunez-Roches in the four-man front nickel package. Logan is best against the run but offers more power pass rush then the man he is replacing. He will still be part of the rotation when the Chiefs go to five and six defensive backs.

Seth Keysor from Arrowhead Pride joins us again this week to talk about this defensive line’s evolution this offseason.

The team has made inquiries about other positions along the front seven as well. With the free agent departure of Josh Mauga and the injury to Derrick Johnson, the team could be without a veteran presence at inside linebacker to start the season. Looking to upgrade over Ramik Wilson, Justin March and Terrance Smith, general manager John Dorsey brought in free agent Gerald Hodges for a visit earlier this week. Hodges, an experienced inside linebacker, ended up leaving town without a contract. Inside linebacker will have to be addressed in the draft.

Options Inside

The Chiefs have a number of ways to improve their front seven in 2017 through the draft. Building a stronger and more aggressive front will help make the already strong secondary even better. The lack of a free agent signing may signal that the team feels the draft class of off-ball linebackers offers them options for 2017.

There’s been talk here at Arrowhead Addict of Haason Reddick and Zach Cunningham as options for Kansas City. There has even been talk about the possibility Reuben Foster falling all the way to a spot where the Chiefs can select him.

There is another option likely to be available to Kansas City. Much like Bennie Logan, Ohio State’s Raekwon McMillan offers a stout and aggressive 2-down option, although as an inside linebacker draft selection. McMillan blitzes well, is strong at the point of attack and is aggressive. He tested well at the combine which brings hope that he could evolve into a three-down linebacker in the NFL. Time will tell if McMillan can play on third down consistently but he offers a lot of athleticism the Chiefs can use right away.

Pressure off the edge

One prospect that keeps strengthening the conclusion that he is a special fit for Kansas City is Youngstown State’s Derek Rivers, who we spoke to on Monday.

Rivers looks the part on tape playing both as a 4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB at Youngstown. He played a higher number of snaps as a down defensive end in college but we found out that he played stand-up outside linebacker in high school, so the OLB role is not foreign to him. His combine measurables are eye-opening in that they are remarkably similar to what Justin Houston did at his combine. on Top of that, Rivers is 20lbs lighter. Here are a couple examples.

Rivers offers pass rush length and strength. He has the ability to drop into coverage and has a knack for making plays.

More up front?

The signing of Bennie Logan to upgrade the defensive line makes a high-round selection of a defensive lineman less likely. There are few later round possibilities, however.

One lineman that really fits in Kansas City is Elijah Qualls from the University of Washington. He has had a solid draft season and that will likely cause him to be selected at the end of Day 2. If he slips down at all, he’ll be a steal in the fourth round.

Kansas City has six picks on day 3 of the 2017 NFL Draft. It’s reasonable to think one of them could be spent on a 300 lb. lineman. Other day 3 options along the defensive line include Notre Dame’s Jarron Jones and Idaho’s Glen Antoine, both players with solid resume’s against quality competition.