The Kansas City Chiefs have traded a future fourth round pick to the Buffalo Bills for linebacker Reggie Ragland.
It wasn’t so long ago that Kansas City Chiefs fans were clamoring for the team to select former Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland in the 2016 NFL Draft. Now those same fans can rejoice with the news that the Chiefs have officially traded for Ragland in a deal with the Buffalo Bills for the reported cost of a future fourth round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft.
The #Bill have traded former 2nd round pick Reggie Ragland to the #Chiefs for a 2019 4th round draft pick
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 28, 2017
The reason Chiefs fans were excited by the idea is because the ‘Bama product was the ideal sort of linebacker to line up alongside Derrick Johnson as a thumper for the run defense. Also given that it’s clear that DJ can’t play forever, Ragland was the sort of young investment in the heart of the defense that would keep things rolling.
Ragland was lost for all of last season due to a torn ACL and has yet to find the same “burst” coming off of rehab, according to Bills head coach Sean McDermott. Clearly the Chiefs are hoping for the burst to return and are buying low on a player they must have liked in last year’s draft enough to send a future fourth round selection for him.
Ragland should be expected to come in and compete with other role players in the team’s fourth and final preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.