2017 NFL Draft Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report: Will Holden
By Ben Almquist
The Kansas City Chiefs are largely set on their offensive line. However, Will Holden of Vanderbilt could be an interesting target in the middle rounds.
Over the past couple of seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs have made some major investments in their offensive line. For the most part, every position is taken care of…including the depth chart. However, it never hurts to add competition. Will Holden of Vanderbilt could be had in the middle rounds and provide some competition at offensive tackle.
The Chiefs made a pretty big investment at offensive tackle last season with Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. They followed up on that this year by re-signing Mike Person to a one year deal. For the most part, it would appear that Kansas City has all the linemen they need for the time being.
However, there is absolutely nothing wrong with bringing in talent to compete. That is especially true on the depth chart. Mike Person may have been re-signed, but he is not guaranteed a roster spot. Having him duke it out with a draft pick makes a lot of sense for the Chiefs.
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While the Chiefs are set on the offensive line on paper, they can still stand to use some new talent. Teams build a strong roster by grabbing the best talent they can. If someone can come in and beat out Mike Person, then the roster is just that much stronger. John Dorsey shouldn’t shy away from that approach.
Vandy LT will holden looks like a draftable RT that could provide nfl versatility... Needs to get stronger....
— Mike Mayock (@MikeMayock) January 17, 2017
Will Holden – OT – Vanderbilt
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Vanderbilt doesn’t often get a lot of respect as a football school. However, that has been a little different this year as Zach Cunningham is getting hype. That hype has led teams to discover other talented players like Will Holden at offensive tackle. The big tackle is now getting some hype of his own as analysts do more research.
Will Holden shows a lot of strength in his blocking, especially in the run game. Effective hand use with a solid punch to knock defenders off their mark. Can neutralize pass rushers if he gets his hands on them. Solid in the run game, always looking for his next block. Angles himself to get between the ball carrier and the defender.
On the downside, Will Holden has some limitations as an athlete. Not quick-footed enough to play on the blind side. Has shorter arms which gives defenders an advantage in gaining leverage. Limited ability to block in space. Doesn’t finish enough blocks, instead looking to bounce ahead.
I see Will Holden as a right tackle in the NFL, but that shouldn’t deter the Chiefs who can flip Mitchell Schwartz to the left side in a pinch. Holden would provide a big run blocker to Kansas City, which would come in handy in short-yardage situations. He can also be looked at as a potential guard in the future.
Andy Reid loves to draft linemen, so don’t be surprised if the Kansas City Chiefs add one in the 2017 NFL Draft. Offensive line is definitely one of those position groups where it never hurts to add talent. The Chiefs have dealt with a number of injuries on their line over the past few years. So it makes sense to load up on talent.