KC Chiefs Defensive Needs First 2016 NFL Mock Draft
By Bobby Miller
Round 6 | Pick 28: Josh Forrest
I did not expect this prospect to be available to the KC Chiefs this late. Forrest’s draft stock recently declined as a result of his 4.91 40 time at the NFL Combine which ranked 29th among the 31 linebackers who ran.
40 time isn’t of extreme importance to me if the athlete shows sufficient speed in game film. Forrest has done this, but why would the KC Chiefs draft another inside linebacker?
Josh Forrest is quite a different prospect from Martinez who was drafted with a pick the KC Chiefs may not even have.
Even if the KC Chiefs drafted Martinez as well, Forrest does not display the run-stopping ability that Martinez displays. Instead, Forrest would serve as an interior blitzer.
Zierlein goes into more depth about Forrest’s skill set. “With his athleticism and length, teams may be tempted to try him out as an edge rusher,” he said.
“But he is a much better straight-line blitzer through the A and B gaps than he is around the edge.”
“Forrest is a WILL linebacker with the size and range teams look for, but his combination of average instincts and wasted movement in space could be an indicator of up-and-down play in the pros.”
Playing Forrest on passing downs while Martinez plays in rushing situations would maximize both players’ strengths.
On passing downs, the pass rush would gain another unique wrinkle with Forrest’s interior pass rush.
On rushing downs, Martinez and Johnson would create an impenetrable wall for running backs.
Any help the KC Chiefs pass rush can get while Houston sits out will certainly go a long way next season.
Next: Ole Miss Lineman NOT Named Laremy Tunsil