2021 Senior Bowl prospects for the KC Chiefs to watch

Defensive End

National Team

• Osa Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA
• Rashad Weaver, DE, Pitt
• Patrick Jones II, DE, Pitt
• Tarron Jackson, DE, Coastal Carolina

American Team

• Carlos Basham Jr, DE, Wake Forest
• Payton Turner, DE, Houston
• Janarius Robinson, DE, Florida State

Unfortunately for the Chiefs, the 2021 defensive end class is not particularly impressive. Further complicating that issue, the type of players that Steve Spagnuolo has historically looked for to play defensive end are few and far between. There are some players who would make sense, but none of the names above are likely first-round selections—unless they put on a dominant display at the Senior Bowl.

Rashad Weaver and Patrick Jones II, both from the Pittsburgh Panthers program, have been a wrecking crew at the collegiate level. Concerns about their general athleticism hamper the draft stock of both players. Weaver and Jones are both high motor guys and warrant day two consideration.

Carlos “Boogie” Basham Jr from Wake Forest is a perfect fit for what Spagnuolo wants in a defensive end in terms of size, length, and weight. Basham is an experienced and productive player who plays with strong hands, but he struggles with pad level and is not going to win around the edge as a pass rusher.

Payton Turner is a name to circle. The Houston Cougar prospect has prototypical size and has shown solid development over the past two seasons. Turner has the chance to sneak into the first round if he shows he has the traits necessary to play in the NFL. Turner had his best season in 2020 and appears to be trending upwards in terms of his development as a player. The best may be yet to come.

The other players on these teams are not traditional Steve Spagnuolo defensive ends but show pass-rushing traits that may warrant consideration. Janarius Robinson is lengthy and has shown flashes, but his inconsistency is maddening.

Osa Odighizuwa is a really fun player to watch but will need some sorting out at the NFL level. Odighizuwa primarily played inside at defensive tackle for the Bruins, but he is too light to play tackle at the next level. Odighizuwa is 6’2″, which is somewhat undersized for a defensive end. The UCLA Bruin is an accomplished athlete and could develop into a role player at the next level.

Finally, Tarron Jackson from Coastal Carolina is another player from a small school who could make a name for himself. Jackson is listed at only 6’2″ but well built for the NFL and has shown to be a high effort player. Jackson, similar to Payton Turner, has shown steady development, and while his ceiling may not be as high, Jackson could develop into a starting-caliber player.