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Kansas City Chiefs: Five undrafted players to watch this week

By Lyle Graversen

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 02: Tight end Blake Mack #16 of the Arkansas State Red Wolves tries to avoid the tackle of linebacker Marcus Newby #3 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 02: Tight end Blake Mack #16 of the Arkansas State Red Wolves tries to avoid the tackle of linebacker Marcus Newby #3 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – SEPTEMBER 24: Ben Niemann #44 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates after Rutgers Scarlet Knights is unable to score on 4th down in the second quarter at High Point Solutions Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – SEPTEMBER 24: Ben Niemann #44 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates after Rutgers Scarlet Knights is unable to score on 4th down in the second quarter at High Point Solutions Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Ben Niemann – LB – #56

When NFL teams sign undrafted rookie free agents they can typically be lumped into two basic categories: guys that can compete for roster spots despite being undrafted and camp bodies. When the Chiefs signed former Iowa Hawkeye Ben Niemann, I think almost everyone assumed he would fall into the “camp body” category but that appears to have been a bad assumption on our part.

Niemann will have his work cut out for him to end up on the final 53 man roster but before the first preseason snap has even happened he’s already elevated himself from a no-name to a guy that got some first string defensive snaps when the Chiefs had some injuries at inside linebacker and is getting name dropped by Dave Toub as a guy that has impressed him thus far.

Chiefs fans will easily spot Niemann because he’ll be the guy that freaks you out by wearing Derrick Johnson’s former number 56. It’s always a weird feeling to see someone else wearing a Chiefs legend’s number, but after you get over that initial feeling actually take some time to watch Niemann to see if he’s a guy that could make this team.

What to watch for:

* How soon does Niemann get on the field? KC has had a lot of ILB injuries, can he take advantage of that?

* Does he stand out on special teams? A back up ILB HAS to be a special teams guy. The fact that Toub name dropped him is a good sign but now he needs to show he can do it in an actual game.

* How does he look in coverage? At Iowa he was probably their best coverage LB and in today’s NFL that is a huge plus if you can cover guys in the middle of the field.

* Listed at 233 pounds can he be a sure tackler on NFL caliber running backs and tight ends?

Next up, the other quarterback that has some people talking.

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