Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
Albert Okwuegbunam is familiar to the region, playing his high school ball in Illinois and his college ball at the University of Missouri. He’s considered a top-10 tight end prospect with an estimated draft position in the middle rounds. Okwuegbunam is the type of player I’d anticipate the Chiefs would only target in the fourth or fifth round, and I’ll show you why.
His college production left a lot to be desired. In three seasons with the Tigers, two of those playing with current starting NFL quarterback Drew Lock, Okwuegbunam averaged only 33 catches for 396 yards per season. He did have 23 touchdowns, 11 his freshman season, but he didn’t show the kind of consistent production you’d expect from a mid-round pick.
Okwuegbunam’s physical attributes are an entirely different story. At 6’5″ and 258 pounds he has the prototypical size you want at the position. It’s his speed that really stands out, running a blistering 4.49 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
It seems odd that Okwuegbunam wasn’t more productive in Missouri’s offense. Playing with a future NFL starter at quarterback makes that even more odd. Scouts attribute this primarily to his struggles as a route runner, and it’s why I’d guess the Chiefs would only consider him in the fourth or likely fifth round. You’d draft him late because of his athletic potential, but he will assuredly take some time to improve on the more technical aspects of the position.