2022 NFL Draft: Best linebacker fits for the KC Chiefs

The 2022 NFL Draft is inching closer and closer, with many Kansas City Chiefs fans wondering who their favorite team will take in the early rounds. As we mull through the prospects, we will look at the best draft fits for the Chiefs at each position. In this article, we’ll be looking at the linebackers.

The LB class this year does have a decent amount of intriguing prospects, especially in the second round. With that said, here are some of the best draft fits for the Chiefs at LB in this NFL draft (with their respective picks):

Nakobe Dean, Georgia

One of the best linebacker prospects in this draft is none other than Nakobe Dean from Georgia. Dean is the winner of the 2021 Butkus Award, naming him the nation’s best linebacker that season. In 2021, Dean had 72 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, 6 sacks, 2 interceptions, a pick-six, and 5 pass defends.

Dean would immediately be a fit with Steve Spagnuolo’s 4-3 defense, playing in one for most of his career at Georgia. He’d be the WILL LB if drafted by the Chiefs, who has shown to be a good athlete with good foot quickness and speed and agility. Dean is also one of the best tacklers in this linebacking class, rarely missing tackles last season, whether in space or confined areas. According to the Draft Network, Dean does provide good value in the passing game, letting “his instincts allow him to get in the passing lanes to secure off-target throws in the short-to-intermediate areas.”

Dean is one of the best linebacker prospects to draft with their respective pick. If he’s gone, however, who else should the Chefs look to draft?

Quay Walker, Georgia

A beast out of Georgia, Quay Walker, is another LB the Chiefs can target in the draft. Walker had 65 total tackles and 5.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 3 pass defends, and a fumble recovery in 2021. Furthermore, he was a  true leader on that monstrous Georgia defense. Like his fellow linebacker in Dean, Walker would easily fit within Spagnuolo’s 4-3 defense.

Walker has everything you want in a WILL linebacker. He’s a reliable tackler, has shown to perform well in pass coverage, and is a very athletic player overall who has good speed matched with solid agility and solid acceleration. Walker is also a versatile athlete, playing snaps as a linebacker and on the defensive line in Georgia last season. Many teams would kill for an athletic/versatile prospect like him, and the Chiefs could snag him within the 1st round.

Chad Muma, Wyoming

The Chiefs have hit in the 2nd round in linebackers for the past two drafts in Willie Gay and Nick Bolton. Chad Muma is someone who can shine in the Chiefs’ defense. In 2021, Muma had a total of 142 tackles, ranking 1st in the NCAA. Muma has displayed to be a very good tackler outside of stats alone, wrapping ballcarriers up with ease but has also shown to rarely miss tackles no matter where he’s at. Muma has also been shown to hit in the 4-3 defense, which is what Spagnuolo loves to run.

Muma’s tackling ability translates into being a good run defender, always being a downhill player, and rarely ever misses tackles in the box. As per the Draft Network, he has shown to be good in zone defense as they note “his drop range and instincts allow him to get in the passing lanes to secure off-target throws in the short-to-intermediate areas.” Muma is someone who can easily fit within the Chiefs’ defense.

Other LB prospects that could be good fits:

• Christian Harris, Alabama
• Brian Asamoah, Oklahoma

Who do you think the Chiefs should draft at LB? Leave a comment down below to join the discussion!