2019 NFL Draft: Deionte Thompson will miss Combine with torn wrist ligament

2019 NFL Draft prospect Deionte Thompson suffered an injury that led to surgery, first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Safety Deionte Thompson, a potential first-round prospect in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft, reportedly suffered an injury that required surgery on his wrist, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

Thompson, who is widely considered a top safety prospect, had to have a ligament surgically repaired in his wrist. The injury and subsequent surgery mean that Thompson will likely sit out of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, coming up this next week in Indianapolis.

Thompson has been linked to the Kansas City Chiefs in several mock drafts.

In his final season playing collegiately for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Thompson notched two interceptions and three forced fumbles. He also defended six passes, with a total of 78 tackles. In his three years at Alabama, he had 112 total tackles.

While injuries are never a good thing and it is surely a huge blow to Thompson’s draft stock, his injury and looming unlikely participation at the Scouting Combine means that he could potentially fall to the Chiefs in the second round with the club’s first of two second-round picks.

With his injury, the Chiefs would be able to seek other talent such as a cornerback or interior linebacker in the first round, and draft Thompson in the second round. The first-round talent that he boasts would be huge—even if it means he has to use the majority of the offseason to recover. Learning behind star safety Eric Berry would allow Thompson to blossom to his full potential. If he is able to exercise and develop his intangible skills, he would be a force to be reckoned with in the National Football League.

Thompson would instantly bolster the team’s secondary, and it appears that he would fit nicely in the new 4-3 scheme that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is installing in the Chiefs’ defense.