2017 NFL Draft KC Chiefs Scouting Report: David Njoku

The 2017 NFL Draft is getting closer and the KC Chiefs can narrow down to players they’re interested in drafting. Could they target tight end David Njoku?

Tight end isn’t necessarily a position of need for the Kansas City Chiefs, but as we’ve seen in the past, this team is all about drafting for depth at the right moment.

Behind Travis Kelce, who is there on the KC Chiefs’ depth chart? Despite Demetrius Harris‘ big grabs, he had way too many dropped passes and just isn’t panning out as that second-string tight end and James O’Shaughnessy hasn’t done much.

The Chiefs might need to use the 2017 NFL Draft to find their number two tight end and that guy could be David Njoku out of Miami.

Njoku shot up draft boards after an impressive Combine that saw him put up some good numbers.

Combine Results (Courtesy of NFL.com)

* Indicates Top Performer

Adding an explosive tight end like David Njoku to the depth chart would make this offense a nightmare down the road.

40-Yard Dash – 4.64 seconds
Bench Press – 21 reps
Vertical Jump – 37.5 inches*
Broad Jump – 133.0 inches*
3-Cone Drill – 6.97 seconds*
20-Yard Shuttle – 4.34 seconds

Njoku had a nice Combine and that has now propelled him as the second best prospect in this year’s tight end class, according to CBS Sports. The only tight end rated higher than him is O.J. Howard out of Alabama, but both are projected as top 30 talents in this year’s draft class.

After two active seasons with the Hurricanes, David Njoku spent time at the wide receiver position and at tight end. He had a great season as a tight end in 2016, totaling 43 receptions for 698 yards and eight trips into the end zone.

The concerning thing about Njoku is that he didn’t see a lot of time as a starter while at Miami. In fact, the Hurricane only started nine games in two full seasons. NFL.com (linked above with Combine information) also points out that Njoku struggled with drops and that he’s still learning the tight end position.

More from KC Kingdom

CBS Sports says that Njoku is a “big play threat”, which is exactly the type of player that the KC Chiefs need. They have Kelce, who is a monster once he gets the football and also have Tyreek Hill, but other than that… Playmakers are tough to find in Kansas City.

Adding an explosive tight end like David Njoku to the depth chart would make this offense a nightmare down the road. Kelce and Njoku are both guys who like to run after the catch, as evidenced by Njoku’s 16.2 yards per reception in 2016, per his stats at College Football Reference.

At the end of the day, no, I don’t see the Chiefs taking a tight end early in the draft. David Njoku will more than likely be a late first-round pick, or at the very least, an early second rounder. That means that he very well could be on the board when Kansas City is on the clock, but they’ll probably pass on the former Cane.

Next: Building the Chiefs Draft Board

A tight end wouldn’t be a bad selection for later in the draft though. Ben Almquist wants the Chiefs to target Howard in the first round, but otherwise, let the tight end position go undrafted until round four. That’s a logical choice for the Chiefs, as Kelce is a budding young star in the NFL.

What do you think, Chiefs Kingdom? Would you be content if Kansas City went with a tight end early in the draft?

Home/Chiefs Draft Analysis