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Kansas City Chiefs 2020 NFL Draft Report Card

By Lyle Graversen

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 09: Clyde Edwards-Helaire #22 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after rushing for a 1-yard touchdown during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 09: Clyde Edwards-Helaire #22 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after rushing for a 1-yard touchdown during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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TOLEDO, OH – OCTOBER 22: Running Back Kareem Hunt #3 of the Toledo Rockets is tackled by Central Michigan Chippewas Mike Danna #57 at Glass Bowl on October 22, 2016 in Toledo, Ohio. (Photo by Andrew Weber/Getty Images)
TOLEDO, OH – OCTOBER 22: Running Back Kareem Hunt #3 of the Toledo Rockets is tackled by Central Michigan Chippewas Mike Danna #57 at Glass Bowl on October 22, 2016 in Toledo, Ohio. (Photo by Andrew Weber/Getty Images) /

Round 5 – Pick 177 – Mike Danna – DE – Michigan

I’m going to try and be subjective here, but in the spirit of honesty, I’ll just preface with the fact that Mike Danna was by far my least favorite pick of this draft class. Danna wasn’t even rated on the top 300 composite big board and the Chiefs took him with the 177th pick of the draft. Danna did look like a promising pass rush prospect after two successful seasons at Central Michigan, but last season after transferring to Michigan he simply wasn’t able to be the same impact player.

Dane Bruglar of the Athletic did see some potential in him and had this to say in his draft guide:

"Danna has some juice in his lower body to spring out of his stance and win gaps. He has adequate length and power for the position, working through the body of blockers to collapse the pocket or stuff the run when reduced inside. However, he is far from a seasoned pass rusher, thinking too much and struggling to efficiently alter his rush plan mid-play. Overall, Danna had a very quiet senior season for a grad transfer, but there is untapped talent there that can be unleashed in the right situation."

The Pro Football Focus Draft Guide sounded a little less optimistic:

"Danna’s drastic splits between good and bad competition are pretty easily explainable, he’s a power defensive end who’s not particularly powerful. When he does have the physical advantage over the tackle he’s going against, he dominates them repeatedly. When he doesn’t have the physical advantage, he struggles to find a plan B. With that physical advantage being toast once he gets to the league, Danna needs to figure out that plan B."

To follow up what PFF said there, if this pick is going to be anything other than a wasted pick they better find a way to develop Danna so that he can have the success he’s had against lesser competition against NFL tackles. Danna’s tape simply doesn’t show that currently. Danna seems like a 7th round pick that you take a flier on as opposed to someone you take in the 5th round when there are higher upside players like offensive linemen Hakeem Adeniji and Netane Muti, wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones, and safety Geno Stone all still on the board.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo typically likes a little bigger end prospect, so I’m not even sure how good the fit with the Chiefs is. I see very little chance of Danna making a big impact as a rookie with several other defensive end options on the roster and with questionable long-term upside, the grade card is looking pretty rough on this one.

Draft Slot Value Grade: F
Fit With Chiefs Grade: C
Need/Immediate Impact Grade: F
Long Term Upside Grade: C-

Overall Pick Grade: D

Next, the Chiefs surprised many by trading back into the 7th round for one more pick.

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