*** 2016 Prospect Tracker: Chiefs Interest / Visits / Work Outs ***
 

Well, this thread was delayed a few weeks this year, due to our unlikely playoff run. And thank goodness for that.

But here we are again - 5th year in a row tracking the college players the Chiefs have publicly or privately expressed interest in leading up to the 2016 NFL Draft.

Here's how we did last year.

For those who are new, the way this operates is that we collectively monitor various social media sources, blogs, articles and reports for news of the Chiefs' interest in a certain player. When posted in this thread, I will update the OP to include the player. *Please provide the link to the article, the players name, position and team.

I am going to try to link to player profiles when they exist, courtesy of draftbreakdown.com. For some of the lesser-known guys, it may just be a random video or profile from their team website.

Let's meet some of our future Chiefs:

2016 Draft - Chiefs Prospect Tracker

Offense
QB
Carson Wentz, NDSU
Kevin Hogan, Stanford
Paxton Lynch, Memphis

RB
Will Ratelle, FB, North Dakota State
Darrian Miller, Northern Iowa

WR
Braxton Miller, Ohio State
Michael Thomas, Ohio State
Quenton Bundrage, Iowa State
Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
Mitch Mathews, BYU
Paul McRoberts, Southeast Missouri State
Moritz Boehringer, Germany
Ryan Burbring, Bowling Green
Robby Anderson, Temple
Demarcus Robinson, Florida


TE


OT
Vadal Alexander, LSU
Caleb Benenoch, UCLA
Stephane Nembot, Colorado
David Hedelin, Purdue

G
Blake Muir, Baylor
Jake Bernstein, Vanderbilt

C
Evan Boehm, Missouri

Defense
CB
Mackensie Alexander, Clemson
Juston Burris, NC State
Maurice Canady, Virginia
Xavien Howard, Baylor
Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
Jonathan Jones, Auburn
William Jackson III, Houston
Kalan Reed, Southern Miss
Elie Bouka, Calgary
Arjen Colquhoun, Michigan State
Deiondre' Hall, Northern Iowa
Morgan Burns, Kansas State *Return Specialist

S
Vonn Bell, Ohio State
T.J. Green, Clemson
Derrick Kindred, TCU
Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee State

OLB
Shaq Lawson, Clemson
Dadi Nicolas, Virginia Tech
De'Vondre Campbell, Minnesota
Quentin Gause, Rutgers
Perez Ford, Northern Illinois
Jatavis Brown, Akron
Stephen Weatherly, Vanderbilt
Terrance Smith, FSU

ILB
Reggie Ragland, Alabama
Blake Martinez, Stanford
Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
Josh Forrest, Kentucky
Su'a Cravens, USC

DE
Austin Johnson, Penn State
Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky
Bronson Kaufusi, Brigham Young
Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
Roy Robertson-Harris, UTEP

DT
Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech
Kyle Peko, Oregon State
Destiny Vaeao, Washington State
David Onyemata, Manitoba

Special Teams
P


K

If we can get a "sticky-icky, oo-wee, put it in the air," that would just be dandy.

Any updates from the Senior Bowl / Shrine Games?

I'm sure we had some folks out there.

I've seen we've visited with Austin Johnson (Penn State) and Reggie Ragland (Bama)

We met with Braxton Miller today too

If Ragland somehow falls to us we have to take him.

Im locking my preferred pick on Noah Spence. Think he is a top 10 talent in this draft that may fall because of his "drug related" issues. Justin Houston 2.0 type of situation if you ask me. I think he's that good of a player.

He definitely sounds like a Dorsey type of player if he checks out good like Peters.

Didnt he measure on the small side?

Updated

Ford has shown a fair amount of growth and Houston is Houston.

I don't see another home for Spence in this system.

Are you really so confident in this kid that you'll essentially be willing to bury Ford here?

I'd use a 2nd on him (he won't last that long) but I'm not going to use a 1st on a guy that makes a former 1st round pick who's showing significant potential redundant.

NY Giants SB teams, you can't have enough passrushers to stifle the most important position on the offense.

That remains a red herring.

Strahan was an aging shell of himself so the Giants grabbed Justin Tuck in the 3rd. They didn't go using 1st round picks on replacements for Strahan, nor did they plan on Tuck being a stud; sometimes it just works out that way.

Then folks want to cite JPP as some strategic masterstroke - the Giants were at a complete impasse with Umenyiora and knew they couldn't keep him so they grabbed JPP. In so doing, they pretty much ended Tuck's time as an effective player.

Let's not act like the Giants snagged JPP and suddenly Umenyiora, Tuck and JPP all set about wrecking stuff - that didn't happen. JPP's ascension came at the expense of Justin Tuck. And Umenyiora walked shortly thereafter.

Let's discuss how those 3 players would actually get on the field at the same time and be effective contributors. You gonna try to turn Houston into an interior pass-rusher? Of the 3, he's the only one that can do it.

It's easy to just say "Giants!" every time as many are prone to doing, but you have have an actual plan here as to how to make all 3 players immediate contributors if you intend to use a first rounder to block a first rounder and/or slide a franchise player into a different role.

I just don't see a way it works.

Red herring, no NYG took down Brady twice in the SB not once, but won it twice. I could mention Denver did it this post season, but alas if you are already deadset have favoritism with Ford then by all means lets not pick potentially elite talent.

Added to the fact, the Chiefs passrush goes to shit when both Houston and Hali are injured. If an impact player is available you select him, it's all about rotation and keeping the D-Line fresh.

But the first time had nothing to do with drafting a layered player - again, Tuck was just a mid-draft find that played great ball.

And they didn't do it by having 3 dynamic pass-rushers the second time - they only had 2 as JPP's performance essentially took Tuck off the field.

And good lord, just how many draft/financial assets are you going to throw at potential backups? Because being worried about what happens when BOTH of our top pass rushers goes down to injury most assuredly shouldn't be how one goes about conducting a draft.

If only we'd have drafted the last impact pass-rusher that fell down the board, right? Randy Gregory would've been the cure to all that ailed us.

and I still maintain that though he was dealing with a high ankle sprain this season.

If you want to win with a game manager you have to invest in the other most important position on the team which is passrushers.

I don't often disagree with you, but I just don't see the "fair amount of growth" from Ford that you do.

He was marginally better as a run defender, and in coverage, and has shown little to no improvement as a pass rusher.

He showed a fantastic motor as well as the beginnings of both a spin move and a nice little up and under that he'd demonstrate at times.

Ford's always going to be a speed rusher. In the end, he's like a fastball pitcher - he just needs a couple of 'meh' secondary pitches because the heat makes gets the opponent reacting. Suddenly that C- curveball makes guys look silly (Royals fans, recall Mike MacDougal).

If Ford shows just a little more growth on those secondary moves, they'll play up because of how much respect opponents have to give his speed. And this year I saw flashes of those moves. And don't sleep on the motor either; a lot of guys have carved outstanding careers for themselves merely by refusing to give up on a play. Just as many guys have failed to ever realize their potential because they lacked that kind of tenacity.

The fact that he'll never be a 'complete' rusher means he's not going to be a 16 sack guy. But off nothing but his speed alone, he can be a double digit sack guy as early as next year. Moreover, that speed will also need to be dealt with by either passes to the RB or keeping the RB in altogether because his recovery speed will make merely chipping him ineffective.

Hey, that's my analogy.

http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetings/ByTeam

Vernon Butler, DT/NT, Louisiana Tech (SR)

added, thanks!

Very much looks so far like the Chiefs are intent on replacing Jaye Howard early on.

Penn State's Austin Johnson would be ideal. Fits the profile in terms of what Dorsey wants from his DL players. And he's a beast defending the run - something that Poe still lacks.

Vernon Butler

Interesting. Haven't seen anything on him but he does a nice job against a K-State offensive line that will see a guy or two get drafted. Seems pretty raw, but he's really active.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ltL6872vGzs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Chris Jones > Johnson/Butler

Most underrated DL in the draft.

https://youtu.be/vguCmKduWrY (Sorry don't know how to embed these)

Jones, huh?

Loaded DT draft. No way I see them signing Howard for big money with DeVito as an easy resign and a stacked draft class at the position.

It is absolutely LOADED.

Jones is a guy that is being overlooked because of his sack total this year (2.5), but he was among the best interior pass rushers in pressures according to PFF and it shows on tape.

6'6" 308 lbs. This is the type of guy that will make our entire front 7 even better. Good luck trying to block him 1 on 1.

Disagree that he's better than Johnson and Butler. I'm not as high as most on Butler either though, to be honest.

I think Jones needs a ton of work coming out of his stance, using his hands, etc. NFL lineman are going to plant that kid on his ass his rookie year. Given some time, I think he has the possibility to become a Malik Jackson type, which isn't a bad thing. Like Jackson though, I just don't see him going in the first couple of rounds. Round 3 I might bite hoping he improves and puts it all together, but that's the top end.

I disagree that he can't have a day 1 impact, but you don't draft DL for year one. All of those things are very coachable for a guy that big that can penetrate and be disruptive like he was this past year. I'll take a 6'6" 308 lb "Malik Jackson" type all day.

Malik Jackson went 5th round and basically red shirted his rookie year. I dont' see Jones going quite that late, but that's kinda where I'm going with it. I like Jones alot, just not on board before round 3 because I don't think he's a guy you can't rely on to be that much of a situational player right out of the gate.

Guys like Adolphus Washington that already play with great pad level and use their hands well plus have that same athleticism, those are the guys you take in the first 2 rounds.

Jihad Ward projected to us by Kiper. Hmm I liked him as a 2nd Rd option. Seems like a bigger version of Sheldon Rankins but won't provide as much of an immediate impact (but should still be productive).

I really like Ward, but as a 3rd rounder. I almost put him in my last mock. He's a solid player. He's much better against the run than rushing the passer, but the scheme KC has doesn't ask their DEs to collapse the pocket as much as they do set the edge and occupy blockers.

Saw this pop up on arrowhead addict.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Per my guy <a href="https://twitter.com/eric_adelson">@eric_adelson</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Saints?src=hash">#Saints</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bears?src=hash">#Bears</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chargers?src=hash">#Chargers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Packers?src=hash">#Packers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash">#Chiefs</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Raiders?src=hash">#Raiders</a> have all reached out to QB Carson Wentz&#39;s HS coach for info.</p>&mdash; Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/701800372709396481">February 22, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Interesting as to why they'd reach out for him.. Seems like the least likely of the big 3 QBs to be a feasible option.

Thank God. I was worried no one would leak any news this year! We hardly got anything out of the Shrine/Senior Bowl.

I imagine the Combine will produce some news.

Someone really named their kid this. :shake:

In 1994.

This is the one that's really messed up/unfortunate:

http://gazette.com/timothy-mcvey-mak...rticle/1562524

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mizzou?src=hash">#Mizzou</a> C Evan Boehm had an informal meeting with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash">#Chiefs</a> last night. Standard procedure but FYI.</p>&mdash; Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) <a href="https://twitter.com/TerezPaylor/status/702598579102294017">February 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
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http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMe...GhoSiLuLvZP.99

Blake Martinez, ILB, Stanford (COM)
Jaylon Smith, OLB/ILB, Notre Dame (COM)
Noah Spence, OLB/DE/3-4OLB, Eastern Kentucky (COM)
Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State (COM)

Chiefs will have interviews with three edge rushers, two inside linebackers, receiver at NFL combine



It appears the Chiefs will be exploring linebackers in this year’s NFL Draft.

Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson, Eastern Kentucky defensive end Noah Spence and Virginia Tech outside linebacker Dadi Nicolas all told The Star on Friday that they have had, or are scheduled to have, formal interviews with the Chiefs.

Two inside linebackers — Notre Dame star Jaylon Smith and Stanford’s Blake Martinez — also told The Star on Friday they will interview with the Chiefs. Ohio State receiver Michael Thomas also said he has a formal interview with the Chiefs on Friday.

Smith, who checked in at 6 feet 3 and 229 pounds, is projected to be a first-round pick by CBS Sports. He tore his ACL and MCL in Notre Dame’s bowl game in January, but was expected to go in the top half of the first round. Smith won the Butkus Award during a 2015 season in which he recorded 113 tackles, but NFL.com reported that teams believe Smith could miss the entire 2016 season with ankle and knee nerve issues, thus hurting his potential stock.

Spence, who checks in at 6 feet 2 and 254 pounds, is projected to be a first-round pick by CBS Sports. He had 22 1/2 tackles for loss and 13 1/2 sacks in 2015. He originally attended Ohio State, but transferred to Eastern Kentucky after failing two drug tests.

Lawson, 6-3 and 270 pounds, is projected to be a first-round pick by CBS Sports. He finished the 2015 season with 24 1/2 tackles for loss and 12 1/2 sacks, and he elected to enter the NFL Draft after his junior campaign.

Nicolas, 6-3 and 235 pounds, is projected to be a fifth-round pick by CBS Sports. He finished the 2015 season with seven tackles for loss and 2 1/2 sacks as an undersized end. He was more productive as a junior in 2014, compiling 18 1/2 tackles for loss and nine sacks as an outside linebacker.

Martinez, who is listed at 6 feet 1 and 239 pounds, is projected to be a fifth- or sixth-round pick by CBS Sports. Martinez ranked 14th nationally with 10.1 tackles a game in 2016, and was a team captain in Stanford’s 3-4 defense.

The Chiefs have Pro Bowler Justin Houston under contract at outside linebacker for 2016, but another Pro Bowler, Tamba Hali, could hit free agency. The Chiefs also have 2014 first-round pick Dee Ford in the fold, but backups Dezman Moses and Frank Zombo are both slated to be free agents.

The Chiefs’ best inside linebacker, Derrick Johnson, is set to hit free agency in March. The Chiefs do have some promising youngsters in the fold, including 2015 fourth-round pick Ramik Wilson, 2015 fifth-round pick D.J. Alexander and undrafted free agent Justin March. The Chiefs also have two-year starter Josh Mauga under contract for 2016.

Thomas, who is listed at 6 feet 3 and 209 pounds, is projected to be a first- or second-round pick by CBS Sports. He caught 56 passes for 781 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015.

The Chiefs have a number of young receivers who are expected to compete for the No. 2 receiver job, including 2015 starter Albert Wilson and 2015 third-round pick Chris Conley, but veteran receiver Jason Avant — who was a regular in the rotation — is slated to be a free agent.

BJ Kissel tweeted we met with Vadal Alexander and my guy Kevin Hogan

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...e62873977.html

INDIANAPOLIS

The Chiefs will have formal interviews with Ohio State safety Vonn Bell and Clemson safety T.J Green this weekend, both players told The Star on Saturday.

Bell, who is listed at 5 feet 11 and 200 pounds, is the higher-rated prospect of the two. Bell, a two-year starter, declared for the draft after a junior campaign in which he recorded 65 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions. He is projected to go in the second round by CBS Sports.

Green, who checked in at 6 feet 2 and 209 pounds, is a former receiver who moved to safety after the 2013 season.

In 2014, Green had 24 tackles and an interception, but he broke out in 2015, recording 95 tackles (5 1/2 for loss) with three pass breakups.

Green is projected to be a sixth- or seventh-round pick by CBS Sports. Three of the Chiefs’ top four safeties are scheduled to be free agents on March 9, including Eric Berry, Husain Abdullah and Tyvon Branch.

The Chiefs could franchise tag Berry, and have expressed an interest in retaining Branch. But safety depth could still be a need, depending on how free agency shakes out.

Every NFL team is allotted 60 formal interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine, with each lasting 15 minutes.

Seven other players told The Star on Friday that they have had or will have formal interview with the Chiefs.

http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetings/ByTeam

Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis (COM)

Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson (COM)

I know it is due diligence, but boy it seems the Chiefs like their safeties when considering secondary personnel. I think Abdullah may be allowed to walk while Branch and Berry will be retained. I can't see a high pick spent at the position, but you never know how the board may fall.

I'll bet he's explosive.

:hmmm:
What are our chances to get this kid?

ROFL

I don't think we draft a QB this year. Dorsey says the #2 is on the roster and we just gave Bray an extension.

Thanks yall. List updated.

I am not sure why they keep Bray hanging around? Will the Chiefs ever get a QBOTF?? :rolleyes:

Tired of the "Game Manager" years. Lots of good QB prospects-it will suck to see the Chiefs pass on them.

Carson Wentz, NDSU
Kevin Hogan, Stanford
Paxton Lynch, Memphis

Who would rather have one of these guys over watching Alex and his 200 YPG for the next several years?

I hope they interviewed Miles Killebrew.

This is a bad QB class.

Wentz, Goff and Lynch will all be gone by #28 and the rest of the guys are just guys. All of scouts that I follow say they'd take Mariota and Winston over any QB in this draft.

Lots of projects and the Chiefs already have two of those in Murray & Bray.

http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMe...sQOW1XbbRpx.99


Juston Burris, CB, NC State (COM)

Maurice Canady, CB, Virginia (COM)
Josh Forrest, ILB, Kentucky (COM)

Xavien Howard, CB, Baylor (COM)

Bronson Kaufusi, DE/3-4DE, Brigham Young (COM)

Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, Florida State (COM)

Updated, thanks

http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetings/ByTeam

Derrick Kindred, SS, TCU (COM)

added, thanks

http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetings/ByTeam

Caleb Benenoch, OT, UCLA (COM)

Giants had a monster defense in the 2007 Super Bowl. With all five regular starters in on defense -- the Giants had five sacks, and a forced fumble, and a couple of Brady's balls batted down. Led by Justin Tuck had two sacks, one forced fumble, Strahan (in his third Super Bowl win), Kawika Mitchell (your boy) and Jay Alford had one sack each.

The Giants rotated its front-line defensive players based on depth and versatility. Despite being a DE, Tuck was able to slide inside alongside edge rushers Osi Umenyiora and Strahan, a huge factor in pressuring Brady all game. Sometimes LBs and DBs blitzed up the middle -- The Giants never let Brady get in a rhythm.

Giants had a league high of 53 sacks in the regular season. Sigh...

Add S/LB Su'a Cravens

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com...he-nfl-combine

updated

Both Cravens and Kevon Seymour are interesting and would fit the Chiefs scheme quite well.

where do u see cravens for the chiefs.....ilb or safety?

Sorensen's spot, but that's why I don't see them drafting a hybrid guy like that since they have March and Sorensen currently on the roster. (And Sorensen is playing much bigger than his listed weight.)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Scouts from Chiefs, Patriots, Giants, Rams, Lions, 49ers <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bengals?src=hash">#Bengals</a>, Bucs and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> attend Auburn ProDay yesterday.</p>&mdash; Football Drafting (@FootballDraftin) <a href="https://twitter.com/FootballDraftin/status/707196096846626817">March 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash">#Chiefs</a>, Bengals, Jets, Eagles, Colts, Titans, Cardinals, Ravens, Jaguars, 49ers, Saints, Lions among teams present for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KState?src=hash">#KState</a> Pro Day.</p>&mdash; Herbie Teope (@HerbieTeope) <a href="https://twitter.com/HerbieTeope/status/707284162357501952">March 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetings/ByTeam

Jonathan Jones, CB, Auburn (PRO)

Hybrid, like Abdullah

http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetings/ByTeam

Stephane Nembot, OT, Colorado

Dude is a freak.

Hasn't played but three or four years of football, but is a physically gifted freak of nature.

Fits the Dorsey profile for a project.

http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetings/ByTeam

Quenton Bundrage, WR, Iowa State

If Bundrage didn't tear his ACL in 2014, I think there's little doubt he'd be getting talked about as one of the best WRs in the draft. Reminds of Malcolm Mitchell's story. A shitload of talent that doesn't get nearly enough recognition because of a lost year to injury and another year getting back up to speed. He's got insane stop/start ability and runs good routes. I guess he ran a 4.46 at ISUs pro day too, which means he has most of his speed back.

Real sleeper, which is kind of a shame.

And played on teams with shit QBs, shit HC, and a shit OC.

@AaronWilson_NFL-Purdue offensive lineman David Hedelin, a native of Sweden, meets with the Kansas City Chiefs prior to Wednesday Pro Day workout

@AaronWilson_NFL-Kansas City Chiefs executive Chris Ballard here for @UHCougarFB Pro Day

Dorsey sent Ballard to scout Peters last year. This time it's William Jackson.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Spoke to Paxton Lynch just a moment ago. He said he&#39;s flying to Kansas City today to meet with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash">#Chiefs</a> tomorrow.</p>&mdash; Chris Boyle (@ChrisBoyleDBNJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBoyleDBNJ/status/713066740188585984">March 24, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall listening to those combine interviews.

"Son, the flack jackets our players wear aren't made for carrying bombs is that okay with you ???

Dorsey was at the Ole Miss pro day

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2016/3...quon-treadwell

DT Robert Nkemdiche and WR Laquon Treadwell