Chiefs draft grades: Rating every pick in the 2024 NFL Draft
Round 5 - Pick 159 - Hunter Nourzad - IOL - Penn State - 6'3" - 317 pounds
Value: Hunter Nourzad was #142 on the Consensus Big Board. The Chiefs got him 17 spots after that. So the consensus board had him as an early to mid-5th round pick and the Chiefs got him in the late 5th round. That's a decent value, but this isn't far off from where most experts thought he should go.
Need: I believe that interior offensive line was a major need in this draft. I know K.C. has their starters set for this season, but they lost their backup in Nick Allegretti and are poised to lose at least one starter to free agency next offseason. Adding a player who can provide depth off the bench this season and potentially move into a starting role next year fills a need for this team.
Fit with the Chiefs: I just explained that the Chiefs needed to fill Allegretti's role from last season. Nourzad's experience playing both center and guard makes him a perfect fit for that role. In the run game I think he'll fit what KC does very well, my only concern is in the pass game, which I'll discuss in the film section.
Athletic Profile: Due to an injury, Nourzad doesn't have testing numbers to compare to other prospects. As you'll see in his film section, he is a high-caliber athlete who moves well for his size.
Age: This is a knock on Nourzad. He is already 24 years old. Physically, he's probably already at his peak.
Flim: I really like how Nourzad moves out on the field. He looks great getting to the second level while out lead-blocking on plays. While he's not a mauler that generates a ton of push he does have a nice anchor when he is set and uses his leverage. The biggest problem was that in pass protection he either didn't see or was late to react to players coming his direction and there were numerous times when a defender would run past him as he combo-blocked someone with one of the guards next to him. Maybe if he eventually plays guard for KC and is surrounded by veteran linemen who are making the calls and can help him recognize those things that will improve that part of his game.
What Do the Numbers and Experts Say?: Nourzad's multiple games started at center, guard, and tackle in college are a plus for his versatility. His 77.0 PFF run blocking grade last season was good, but his 52.1 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets is a little concerning. He didn't allow a single sack last year, but he was credited with 5 QB hits allowed and 11 hurries.
Draft Grade: B
Hunter Nourzad fills a need and was a smart pick with decent value at the end of the 5th round. I like how he moves to the second level and he'll be a homerun pick if he develops into a starter in 2025. He gets a slight knock for being an older prospect and I have some concerns about his pass protection if he wants to be a starter in a Patrick Mahomes-led offense.