Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report: Darron Lee

The Kansas City Chiefs could have some holes to fill as soon as free agency begins. Could Darron Lee be an option if he’s still available in the first round?

The Kansas City Chiefs are going to have some work to do this offseason. They had a very strong defense in 2015 and will look to improve upon an area of strength. One issue facing the Chiefs is finding depth.

The Chiefs don’t have to look far to see how valuable depth can be to an organization. The Denver Broncos are coming off a Super Bowl victory that saw the number one defense in the league take down one of the best offenses in the league. They did this by having plenty of depth along the defensive line that allowed them to keep sending in fresh legs to blitz the quarterback.

Tamba Hali is getting older and may be leaving via free agency. Justin Houston had a monster year in 2014, but spent significant time on the injury report in 2013 and 2015. Dee Ford still has a lot to prove but showed flashes of why the Chiefs took him in the first round two years ago.

Could Darron Lee be a depth piece to start that can turn into a big play maker for the Chiefs?

Combine Results

More from Chiefs Draft Analysis

• Will Chiefs Draft Western Kentucky Hilltopper DeAngelo Malone?
• The Kansas City Chiefs Address Defense with This Mock Draft
• Will Chiefs Take Boston College Cornerback?
• The Kansas City Chiefs 2022 Mock Draft Roundup 1.0
• Why The Chiefs Should Draft Wide Receiver Christian Watson

• 40-yard dash – 4.47 seconds*
• Bench press – 17 reps
• Vertical jump – 35.5 inches*
• Broad jump – 133.0 inch*
• 3-cone drill – 7.12 seconds
• 20-yard shuttle – 4.20 seconds*

* = Combine top performer

Combine results courtesy of NFL.com

NFL.Com had this to say about the general makeup of Darron Lee:

"Lee’s level of NFL success might very well be tied to scheme fit and his ability to add more muscle to his frame. His athletic traits and ability to make plays should make him a starter, but he won’t unlock his full potential unless he gets strong enough to handle the rigors of an NFL linebacker."

More from KC Kingdom

• Win $650 GUARANTEED Plus $100 Off NFL Sunday Ticket With Caesars, FanDuel and DraftKings Kansas Promos!
• This Plus-Money Bobby Witt Jr. Prop Bet is on Fire (Hit in 15/21 Games)!
• How to Bet on the Chiefs vs. Cardinals in NFL Preseason Week 2
• The Royals Need to Extend Bobby Witt Jr. Immediately
• The 3 Most Intriguing Games on the Chiefs’ Schedule

The good news for Lee is he may not have to start right away. If he can come in on obvious passing situations, he could be a boon to a team that benefits from taking the ball away.

When Houston and Hali weren’t playing last year, the Chiefs didn’t turn the ball over quite as much as they did when those two were playing. It’s not rocket science to figure out that your team is going to be hurting if your best players aren’t on the field, but it still demonstrates a need for some depth.

Darron Lee’s biggest hurdle would appear to be his size and strength. He’s an undersized tackler and scouts are concerned about his tackling abilities. Another option with his size and speed may be to try and convert him into a safety. That would allow the Chiefs to use him as a nickleback in five back sets. From that position he could patrol the middle of the field and still rush the passer.

Next: All-Time Draft Day Bargains

Would you want the KC Chiefs to select Darron Lee in the 2016 NFL Draft? Will he even be available for the Chiefs to select?