Checking out the K.C. Chiefs report card from 2021 NFL Draft
Round 4, Pick 144: DE Joshua Kaindoh, Florida State
Joshua Kaindoh is a hyper-athletic defensive end from Florida State who struggled with health and production in his college career. Out of high school, Kaindoh was viewed as a ‘can’t miss’ prospect. His 6’9” ⅞ wingspan while standing at 6’6” would make you think that he dominated at the college level. However, the lengthy defensive end struggled to stay on the field due to injuries.
This is a pick based on upside and the Florida State product has all the physical attributes that you want in a pass rusher. He just hasn’t put it all together yet. Spagnuolo does a great job of getting the most out of his players, and Kaindoh can benefit a great amount from the coaching that he will receive.
The Former Seminole has only produced one sack over the last two seasons and played in 31 of 47 games over four seasons because of injuries. Last season, Kaindoh totaled 14 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception and one touchdown. Rounds four through seven is when teams take big swings on upside. Kaindoh can eventually become a player that can have moments of impact, but will need development.
Grade: B
Round 5, Pick 162: TE Noah Gray, Duke
The Chiefs would trade up for this pick, and when Andy Reid was announcing the pick you could probably guess that it was an offensive weapon. Noah Gray lacks length and size, but his polished route-running is what the Chiefs believe they can build upon.
During his time at Duke, Gray showed the ability to find soft spots in coverage and take advantage of zone defenses. This is something that Travis Kelce excels in and will teach Gray more about at the next level. Although Kelce signed an extension last offseason, the 31-year-old tight end is not going to be around forever, and it is always helpful to have depth at every position.
The pick also allows the Chiefs to run two tight end sets, giving Mahomes another weapon in the middle of the field. Selecting a tight end may be a head scratcher for some people, but it does not hurt to have a backup option if needed.
Grade: B