KC Chiefs: Grading The 2013 Draft

Round Four: Nico Johnson

Grade: D

Nico Johnson was a promising linebacker and at the time it seemed like a steal for the Chiefs. The Chiefs needed an inside linebacker and Johnson was coming out of a tough Alabama defense.

Johnson was going to be given the chance to shadow Derrick Johnson and perhaps someday be his replacement. The problem is Nico Johnson never saw the field very much.

He made five total tackles for the Chiefs in 2013. In 2014, he was signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad before being snatched up by the Bengals. Johnson hasn’t amounted to much so far in his NFL career. While you don’t expect a lot out of a fourth round pick, you certainly expect them to make the team.

What makes this pick even worse is that Alex Okafor went only a few picks later. So far in his career Okafor has 54 tackles and ten sacks. He’s been far more productive and plays for a good Arizona Cardinals defense.

Had Johnson been picked any higher, he’d have been given an ‘F’

Round Five: Sanders Commings

Grade: D

Sanders was another pick that seemed like a steal for the Chiefs. He was a big, physical corner back that was supposed to be able to dole out hard hits on receivers. See what was said about him in his NFL.com draft profile:

"A cornerback with the build of a starting outside receiver (and the athleticism to have been a late-round MLB draft pick as an outfielder) will certainly generate interest among NFL scouts. As expected given his size, Commings can be physical and bully wide receivers. However, his footwork and quickness aren’t ideal for a corner, so there is a potential conversion to safety in his future."

Sanders Commings was talked about in depth early into his rookie year of training camp, but would go on to break his collarbone. He wound up missing virtually the entire 2013 season with that injury but still had plenty of promise.

In 2014, everything seemed to be going well for Commings until he went up against Jamaal Charles in training camp. Charles issued an ankle breaking move, literally, on the young corner back that went viral.

Commings was waived in September of 2015 and while it’s hard to hold his injuries against him, he still didn’t contribute anything to the Chiefs.

Next: An Ugly Sixth Round