2018 NFL Mock Draft: Chiefs look to go best available at position of need
By Britt Zank
ROUND 7 – PICK 25 (243RD OVERALL): TEGRAY SCALES, ILB (INDIANA)
The Chiefs need as much defensive help as they can get and every pick counts. It’s why I was ecstatic to see a player the caliber of Tegray Scales was still available with this pick.
Scales was a four-year starter at Indiana and really grew into his own the last two seasons. He amassed nearly 225 total tackles over his final two seasons, including 36 for loss. Known mostly as a run stuffer, he was a surprisingly good blitzer recording 18 sacks in his career.
He’s not just a line of scrimmage linebacker either as he’s solid in pass coverage. He was solid in both man-to-man and zone coverages recording eight interceptions and 16 pass deflections in his career.
Scales is a high motor guy with great instincts who is rarely caught out of position. His downside is his lack of size and speed. If he can bulk up and gain an extra 20 pounds on his frame than that would fix the size problem. The speed can be overcome with his instincts and not having to play catchup.
As he sits Scales is a great special team player with his high motor and aggressive playing style. He’ll find his way to the ball and will make plays for Dave Toub. If he can gain the weight and keep his head in the film room he could work his way into being a big contributor on the defensive side of the ball.
What the experts are saying…
"Highly instinctive linebacker who combines a keen sense of play direction with a feel for the optimal angles to fill up the stat sheet. Scales may lack desired size and speed, but his 36 tackles for loss and 13 sacks over the last two seasons should give an indication of his playmaking ability. Evaluators may hem and haw over where to take him, but he has the football intelligence, motor and skill to continue finding tackles as an eventual NFL starter at inside linebacker or as a 4-3 SAM. -Lance Zierlein, NFL.com"