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Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report: Shilique Calhoun

By Leigh Oleszczak

Jan 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive end Shilique Calhoun (89) attempts to block a pass in the game against the Baylor Bears in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Michigan State beat Baylor 42-41. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive end Shilique Calhoun (89) attempts to block a pass in the game against the Baylor Bears in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Michigan State beat Baylor 42-41. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Kansas City Chiefs love their defensive studs. Could they look to add another one in the 2016 NFL Draft?

The Chiefs are a team who love to put an incredible defense on the field. We’ve seen it since Andy Reid and John Dorsey arrived in 2013, and it surely won’t be slowing down any time soon.

With the love for defense in Kansas City, could the team be looking at a guy like Shilique Calhoun in the second round of the draft?

Calhoun, a senior at Michigan State, is a straight up nasty player on the defensive side of the ball. He had a total of 27 sacks in four years with the Spartans (18 and a half of those coming during his junior and senior seasons) and compiled 131 tackles.

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Combine Results

  • 40-yard dash – 4.82 seconds
  • Bench press – 23 reps
  • Vertical jump – 35.0 inch*
  • Broad jump – 115.0 inch
  • 3-cone drill – 6.97 seconds*
  • 20-yard shuttle – 4.25 seconds*

*=Combine top performer

Combine results courtesy of NFL.com’s Draft Tracker

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Calhoun gets tons of praise from both CBS Sports and NFL.com’s analysts. He was named All-American three years in a row (2013-2015) and most definitely deserved the honor.

According to NFL.com, Calhoun had 128 quarterback pressures during his three years starting for Michigan State. He’s good at recognizing the play and getting after the quarterback, which is something the Kansas City Chiefs love to do.

With all of the love for Calhoun, why is he still considered to be only a second round pick at best? CBS Sports mentions that Calhoun is missing that aggressive factor on the field and that he does not have a good snap count awareness. NFL.com mentions that he was flagged nine times for encroachment penalties last season.

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Shilique Calhoun has been worked out at multiple positions by teams so far, including at linebacker for the 49ers and on the defensive line for the Jets. The versatility he could provide teams with is an added reason for Kansas City to give this kid a good look in the second round.

"Calhoun’’s career could go one of two ways — he’’ll become more aggressive and improve his hand usage which will unlock his full potential as an NFL defensive end OR he will become a decent NFL starter who doesn’t have the upfield burst to win up the field as a pass rusher and isn’t strong enough to hold up at the point of attack. Calhoun may need to become tougher against the run before he is handed a starter’s position, but the skill­set is there if he can unlock it. – Lance Zierlein of NFL.com"

If being more aggressive on the field is what Shilique Calhoun is lacking, Reid and Bob Sutton would be great mentors for him. He’d also have defensive leaders like Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, Derrick Johnson, and Dontari Poe to learn from, and who wouldn’t want those guys at the helm?

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Shilique Calhoun is an intriguing pick because the potential is there. He just needs to play with more pop. If he can do that, then I absolutely love what this kid could bring to Arrowhead Stadium in the coming years.

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