The Chiefs five most intriguing undrafted free agent signings
By Jalon Dodson
The Kansas City Chiefs began the frenzy of undrafted free agent signings following the conclusion of the 2020 Draft, so let’s look at the most intriguing.
The Kansas City Chiefs ended the 2020 NFL Draft with six total selections. Following the draft, undrafted free agents who didn’t get the chance to hear their name called during the seven rounds signed with teams in order to help franchises fill out their rosters.
Not often does an undrafted free agent end up making a considerable impact, but let’s take a look at five UDFA signings by the Chiefs that could be unearthed gems for general manager Brett Veach
IOL Darryl Williams, Mississippi State
Interior offensive lineman Darryl Williams out of Mississippi State was among the first wave of signings for the Chiefs. Nicknamed “The Big General”, the 6’3″, 310-pound lineman comes with impressive versatility. Williams played at all five positions at his high school, Bessemer City High School, and was a four-star recruit heading into Mississippi State.
During Williams’ time there, he allowed two sacks on 1,449 left guard snaps and 797 center snaps. It’s safe to say that Williams knows his way around the line, which is great news for the Chiefs as they seek interior line help; versatility as an offensive lineman is key. Being able to play multiple positions earns you a gold star on your resume, and Williams earned his.
The Big General has an innate ability to lead, which is also a very attractive trait especially in an offensive lineman. He was even voted team captain by his teammates a while back, showcasing why and how he earned his nickname. Williams has a shot at making the roster as a backup across the interior, even in 2020, as the Chiefs like to have a fair number of offensive linemen at their disposal. Williams was mocked as early as the fourth round in some mock drafts, but ended up flying under the radar enough to land on the Chiefs’ doorstep as an undrafted free agent.
Chiefs offensive line coach Andy Heck will need to help develop the rookie if Williams wants any shot at seeing a considerable amount of NFL action. Heck will need to help him refine his game, as most of his concerns are easily fixed, such as the lack of being able to serve as an anchor in the passing game against blitzes. If he’s able to shift his weight and use his big body to his advantage, he could end up being a dime for the Chiefs.
According to Pro Football Focus, Williams excelled as a run blocker in comparison to his pass blocking, where he earned respective grades of 68.3 and 45.1. It’s worth noting that he allowed just 30 pressures and 2 sacks in his career, giving him 2.9% pressure rate.
Oh, and he’s also the third D. Williams on the team, and second Darryl (homophonous with running back Darrel Williams), and the fourth on the team with the initials D.W. Yeah, that’ll get pretty confusing if you’re not careful.