2017 NFL mock draft: Chiefs avoid QB until late rounds

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 22: Mike Williams
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 22: Mike Williams /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
10 September 2016: Northwestern Wildcats linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (1) during an NCAA football game between the Illinois State Redbirds and the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
10 September 2016: Northwestern Wildcats linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (1) during an NCAA football game between the Illinois State Redbirds and the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Anthony Walker, Northwestern, LB (3rd, 104th overall)

Walker is a team leader with a strong work ethic and the on-field vision and skills to come in and immediately put Ramik Wilson out of a job (or anyone else with a vision of being the second starting inside linebacker in the Chiefs base defense). He came out early as a junior for the draft and shouldn’t be available after Day Two, even playing a low-value position in a very deep draft class.

Walker had 105 total tackles last year for Northwestern, with 4 forced fumbles, 2 sacks and a single interception. He also defended five passes. He had 38 tackles for loss in his three year collegiate career.

What we say:

There’s no way around grabbing a linebacker prospect in the first few rounds for the Chiefs this year. The fact that Wilson emerged as well as he did after being initially released by the Chiefs was a nice surprise, but losing Josh Mauga to free agency and having Derrick Johnson out with an Achilles injury just makes this need far too great to wait any longer. That makes Walker a very nice addition.

Walker’s NFL.com draft profile compares him to Kiko Alonso and the downside is that he’s weaker against the run than the Chiefs might need him to be. If Dorsey passes, that’d be the reason.