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KC Chiefs draft grades: Creed Humphrey is team’s best center since Mitch Morse

By Evan Mead

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 31: Center Creed Humphrey #56 of the Oklahoma Sooners snaps the ball during the first half of the college football game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 31: Center Creed Humphrey #56 of the Oklahoma Sooners snaps the ball during the first half of the college football game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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The K.C. Chiefs had a few needs that needed to be addressed at the start of the offseason. Leading up to the draft, fans were constantly calling for Orlando Brown Jr., but it seemed like a shot in the dark. However, the one thing you can’t do is discount Veach’s ability to make the big move.

Veach made a move shortly after he hosted a press conference. Shortly after the press conference was over it came out that the Chiefs had landed their left tackle. The Chiefs owned the 31st overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, and there would be no tackle that was the same caliber as Brown. In return for Brown and the 58th overall pick, the Chiefs gave up picks 31, 94, 136, and their 2022 sixth round pick.

With the acquisition of the 58th overall pick they selected Nick Bolton, which filled one of the needs of the Chiefs. Bolton is an exciting linebacker, and one that many Chiefs fans were hoping for with at least one of the two second round picks they own. Bolton is a great tackler, and shows great instincts to stop the run which they struggled with majorly this past season. With that selection, they still had many other needs that needed to be taken into consideration.

The Pick:

“With the 63rd overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft the Kansas City Chiefs select center, Creed Humphrey.”

The Chiefs are looking to re-invent their offensive line after the release of tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. The Chiefs made a lot of big moves this offseason with the acquisition of Orlando Brown Jr. They signed Joe Thuney, Kyle Long, and Austin Blythe. So what role will Humphrey have with the Chiefs going into his rookie year? What are his strengths? What are his weaknesses? I’m here to give you guys an in-depth breakdown of what I noticed throughout the year from his film.

Strengths: 

Humphrey is a guy I’ve had my eye on since the season has started. The center position has been a big void for the Chiefs, and ever since week one where I saw Austin Reiter was their starting center, I knew that it had to be addressed. Humphrey is a pro-ready center and can fill that void that Mitch Morse left behind. He fits in perfectly with the Chiefs, and coming from a high volume passing offense, he has experience in a similar system to that ran by Andy Reid.

Humphrey displays a strong anchor on his lower body, and is able to gain leverage against the tackles he is facing. With the ability to get leverage underneath the pads, along with the physicality he possesses, he is able to fend off anyone that tries to get past him. Humphrey shows a fire to his game and he is able to manhandle the opposition he is in charge of blocking. He also displays the ability to protect the quarterback in the passing game, but he will also open up the running game with his agility and ability to move upfield.

Weaknesses:

Humphrey was one of my favorite players in this draft, and is a fundamentally sound center with very few flaws. One of the biggest things to watch out for is the difference between him and the opposition. Being an undersized center, and going up against NFL competition he will have to learn the ability to counter quicker hand moves from the tackles, and only time will tell how well he is able to manage against bigger NFL competition.

Position Rank: 2

Big Board Rank: 29

Final Grade: 86.7 – B+

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