Ranking the KC Chiefs biggest needs before the 2021 NFL Draft

4. Linebacker

For most fans, this position should likely be higher (a lot higher) given the frustrations heard here year after year (since Derrick Johnson’s play fell off, really). That’s unlikely to change much in 2021—unless the team makes an investment.

Anthony Hitchens is playing much better these days as an every-down linebacker for the Chiefs in the heart of Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, but this only came after a couple seasons of lackluster play while being paid like one of the NFL’s best at his position. The Hitchens’ deal will always be a bit of a head-scratcher, but Veach’s vision for what Hitchens could turn into has at least come closer than ever in the last year.

Alongside Hitchens, Willie Gay is set up for a major leap forward for the Chiefs defense in 2021, and his potential growth is one of the upcoming season’s biggest subplots. If the former second round pick can turn the corner on the mental side and allow his uber-athleticism to become instinctual at the pro level, the Chiefs will have their most talented linebacker since DJ left for the Raiders.

Around him, the Chiefs have Ben Niemann back after a year of much greater responsibility to go with Emmanuel Smith, Darius Harris, and Dorian O’Daniel. Seeing this list of names makes it clear that the Chiefs have room for further investment. However, it’s’ also important to remember that the team is so often in sub packages that utilize multiple defensive backs that depth at linebacker can be overrated by the casual fan who reads too much into a team’s base defense.