2018 NFL Draft: Why the Kansas City Chiefs were big winners on Friday
Despite what you might hear from analysts or fans, the Kansas City Chiefs were actually big, big winners on Friday night with their defensive haul.
By Matthew Phillips (@mattphillips78)
There’s no denying that despite not having a first round draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs were without doubt one of the winners.
Why so? The franchise could easily have delayed finding Alex Smith’s heir apparent until yesterday’s mad scramble for quarterbacks and would have had to sacrifice a bounty to get themselves into a position that afforded them at least a chance to get a talent they liked.
Yesterday graphically illustrated just how astute a move this was and looking back at the events of the first day with teams moving themselves into position to take passers with lower grades than Mahomes did 12 months ago. With that 11th selection, the Buffalo Bills took Wyoming’s Josh Allen, a polarizing talent who I had as my QB4 who, while possessing a strong arm and throwback, traditional size, is not of the same caliber of talent as Patrick Mahomes with an objective scout’s hat on.
For a team looking to primarily target defensive help, the opening day of the draft fell nicely for Brett Veach and company, with the vast majority of their defensive back and defensive line board still intact, save for Mike Hughes, whose support at One Arrowhead Drive was difficult to keep quiet.
So what did the Chiefs do on day two.
ROUND 2 (46)
BREELAND SPEAKS, DE/DT, Ole Miss
It’s always fascinating to see fan disappointment in a player that was sorely underrated in college and isn’t a big name in media circles. As I tweeted ahead of the second round, I had cemented my preference to target a woefully thin defensive line group and that the Chiefs would have a plethora of such talents available to them.
So why trade up? Wouldn’t he have been there at 54? I’m not so sure it’s true and Brett Veach obviously got wind of Indianapolis’ intentions two spots ahead of him at 52. This was confirmed when Kemoko Turay indeed went edge, which leads me to believe Speaks could well have been the pick here.
If your schematic fit and need match in such a way, you have to be bold and go and get that player. The former Rebel is a perfect fit as a 5-technique in the Chiefs’ base defense. In fact there are very few ready to play at that position this year at all other than a certain Bradley Chubb.
Scouting Report:
The former four-star, defensive tackle recruit primarily lined up for the Rebels stood up at right defensive end in Ole Miss’ 4-3 defensive front. Possesses prototypical NFL defensive end size and excellent strength. Surprisingly light feet given his size and routinely chases down ball carriers across the defensive line and downfield to the whistle on plays outside of his responsibility. As such, he can line up as he has done in a 4-3.
I believe he has the strength and movement ability to play as a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4. I’d certainly be comfortable with him moving inside in dime looks and a strong, run defender in a 4-3 on certain downs. The junior is a monstrous tackler, outstanding when he lines up in correct position and squares up to the ball carrier. He rarely loses on one on one instances, swamping his opponent, aided by his long arms and gargantuan size.
Possesses a thick lower body, outstanding leg strength and a square, muscular upper body that allows him to hold the point at the line of scrimmage. Asked to be a pass rusher a lot by the Rebels on the outside, but he isn’t suited to that role without excellent speed nor a wide range of pas rushing moves in his arsenal. It’s not his game.
At times, Speaks can be fooled too easily by misdirection and caught out pursuing inside and leaving his edge vacated. However, when he keys in on the play and holds his position, he can’t be blocked out of proceedings, slipping off blocks and at least keeping part of himself free to bring the ball carrier down by himself on many occasions. When he does this, he is a formidably strong edge presence. If he can play with greater consistency with his awareness and reaction skills, he will be able to do this on an every down basis.
It is as a physical edge presence where I like him the most. His strength is outstanding, can’t be moved easily and when the tailback comes to his side he consistently wins without help. A player I really like, who has barely been spoken of in draft circles. Will be a much valued, every down defensive end at the next level. Impressive second half to his final campaign in Oxford has him coming to the league with great momentum.