Khalen Saunders: Remembering what draft experts said about Chiefs DL

Looking back to 2019 and remembering what draft experts had to say of Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Khalen Saunders.

With the defensive line as the thinnest positional group in Kansas City heading into Chiefs training camp, now is a good time to remind ourselves about some of the individuals who will be responsible for rotational snaps. The competition among the D-line is highlighted by some familiar names, and one in particular who has yet to live up to some pre-draft expectations: Khalen Saunders.

Only so much pressure can be put on the shoulders of third and fourth-round draft picks, and Saunders has struggled to remain healthy, but the 2022 season would be the perfect time for everything in his game to come together.

Looking back at the 2019 draft, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had this to say of him,

"“Active defensive lineman with an impressive combination of agility and athletic ability.”"

And Matt Miller, of ESPN (formerly Bleacher Report), was even more enthusiastic when it came to Saunders,

"“Fiery, athletic defensive tackle with nonstop feet and hands… A scheme-versatile player with experience lining up over the center or in a shade position… his quickness and naturally low center of gravity [help him] to hold his ground”"

Miller’s notes left Chiefs Kingdom ready to add Saunders to the mix, especially after he drew a comparison to B.J. Hill, of the Cincinnati Bengals. Hill has been notably active with the Bengals since entering the league in 2018. Although he’s only made 19 starts, he has appeared in every game Cincinnati has played throughout his tenure and has recorded 13 sacks.

As another reinforcement of what Saunders can offer should he reach his potential in 2022, PFF had him labeled as a steal with the 84th overall selection, by sharing his inclusion among the top-50 prospects on their 2019 big board:

Draft day projections and comps are far from certainties, but all three of these draft experts believed in Saunders making a difference in Kansas City. Considering the status of the defensive line today, the entire fanbase would be higher on Khalen Saunders if he had been drafted this April.

Additionally, in case anyone forgot about this pre-draft gem, this confirms Saunders to be an absolute freak athlete:

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1085635896651730945?s=20&t=uMhTVWNA3QpjoZ_4Haxatg