2019 NFL Draft: 11 Edge prospects that fit the Kansas City Chiefs
With the departures of Dee Ford and Justin Houston the Kansas City Chiefs have questions at defensive end. Here are some edge prospects they could target.
The Kansas City Chiefs are in the midst of a complete defensive overhaul. After the dismal performance of the defense in 2018, the Chiefs parted ways with defensive coordinator Bob Sutton and hired Steve Spagnuolo. Then began the personnel overhaul.
Perhaps nowhere has the overhaul been more drastic than at the edge position in K.C.’s defense. Despite being tied for the league lead in sacks, the Chiefs traded away the franchise tagged Dee Ford and cut ties with long time Chief Justin Houston. Their departures have left a wide open competition for the Chiefs starting defensive ends in Spagnuolo’s 4-3 under defense.
The Chiefs still have former second round picks Breeland Speaks and Tanoh Kpassagnon on the roster. Speaks in particular will likely get a shot to earn one of the starting spots. The Chiefs have also made some offseason additions at defensive end. They signed former New Orleans Saint Alex Okafor. They traded for the Cleveland Browns’ Emmanuel Ogbah and just this part week they added former New York Jet Jeremiah Attaochu. All three of those players could be in contention for playing time but I don’t know that any of them are a lock to be an every down player (Okafor likely being the front runner of the group).
The Chiefs have options at defensive end and find themselves in a position where they don’t have to force the issue in the draft when it comes to adding an edge player. However, none of their current options are likely to come close to replicating the numbers put up by Ford and Houston last season. So there is certainly reason to believe that the Chiefs could be looking to add another option in the upcoming draft.
While there are countless edge prospects in the draft, the Chiefs seem to be targeting guys that fit the mold of a true 4-3 defensive end—with the size and strength to hold up in the run game as opposed to being a more one-dimensional pass rusher. That’s why all the players on this list are at least 6-2 and 260 pounds. Several of them even offer the possibility of playing both inside and outside on the defensive line.
Let’s start by looking at the first round talents that they could have their eyes on.