Kansas City Chiefs 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Dorance Armstrong

The Kansas City Chiefs need some help with their pass rush, and drafting Jayhawks star Dorance Armstrong would be a popular move locally.

Rushing the passer used to be the strength of the Kansas City Chiefs defense. However, over the past couple of seasons, that attacking mindset just hasn’t been paying off. Age, injury, and flat out disappointing results have hurt the Chiefs there. Kansas City needs to shake up the pass rush, and Dorance Armstrong is an excellent option to do that.

The biggest problem the Chiefs have right now is that nobody consistently gets to the passer besides Justin Houston. So naturally their opponents have adjusted their game plans to negate him. What KC needs is another strong presence on the opposite side who makes that impossible.

Kansas City doesn’t need a superstar here. They just need someone who can pick up the role that Tamba Hali once played. It’s clear that Dee Ford isn’t that player. While there may be some hope for Tanoh Kpassagnon in that regard, it’s still worth the investment to get another player in the mix. If nothing else, it prepares KC for the future.

Dorance Armstrong – EDGE – Kansas

NFLDraftScout.com Scouting Report

The Kansas City Chiefs need someone who can hold their own opposite of Justin Houston, and Dorance Armstrong is a promising prospect. The Jayhaws edge defender is a capable player who should be comfortable as a defensive end or outside linebacker in the NFL. He looks like a great fit in KC.

Dorance Armstrong has a long, athletic frame with room to pack on added mass. Quick off the line of scrimmage, Armstrong creates havoc in the backfield. Has the athleticism to drop into coverage, and tracks the ball well in the air. Disruptive force that has to be accounted for on every play. Can win with athleticism or power.

Stat To Know: Dorance Armstrong racked up 34 tackles for loss in three years at Kansas.

The downside to Dorance Armstrong is that he is still technically raw. He doesn’t come with a lot of defined pass rush moves, and doesn’t show much of a plan when rushing. Did not have an impressive 2017 campaign statistically, though that was due in large part to teams scheming away from him.

Local Superstar Is Worth It

I’ll bang on the table for the Kansas City Chiefs to draft Dorance Armstrong. I know that some of the big sites are down on him after his senior season, but he’s shown his dominance. Armstrong is the kind of player that can be a complete mismatch any time he’s on the field. He also brings a well-rounded skill set to a roster.

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Truth be told, I’m putting a first-round grade on Dorance Armstrong, and I will consider him an absolute steal if he’s taken later. I’ve got no problem arguing this one out with anyone. The full body of work tells the tale on Armstrong, not one season where he had absolutely not help.

If the Chiefs are looking to upgrade their pass rush quickly, Dorance Armstrong is the way to go. He’s an impact player that a lot of folks are overlooking right now. Of course, that doesn’t mean the NFL is overlooking him. I would be surprised if the professional scouts weren’t already onto how good a player Armstrong could be.

The Kansas City Chiefs definitely need to figure out something with their pass rush. Maybe Tanoh Kpassagnon is the answer, but that’s a hard bet to make. The Chiefs can make a big move to really improve their attack of the opposing quarterback here. In my book, Dorance Armstrong is definitely worth the investment.