Kansas City Chiefs get an A- draft grade

Grading the first three picks for the Kansas City Chiefs

Breeland Speaks- A+

Speaks is exactly what Chiefs fans should have been looking for. A defensive end at Ole Miss, he lacks the size needed to play that position each play at the next level. He is almost a spitting image of former Chief Tamba Hali however.

Look for the Chiefs to use Speaks the same way they used Hali, and in that sense, Speaks might be one of the only players able to do so. He has nice pass rushing skills, quick hands, and good awareness of what’s happening around him. He doesn’t appear to get lost often on the field.

With Justin Houston on the other side, he shouldn’t be faced with many double teams, which was one of his main weaknesses coming out of college. He is a perfect fit for what the Chiefs are wanting to do with him. His intensity will go unmatched.

Derrick Nnadi- A

Adam Teicher of ESPN suggested that it would be a disappointment if Nnadi was not the starting defensive tackle by next season. It’s hard to give a poor grade to a player that should contend for a starting role within his first season.

The Chiefs needed a run-stopping defensive tackle, and that is exactly what Nnadi is. The Chiefs have been extremely poor when it comes to interior run defense, that will not be the case with Nnadi manning the middle.

Surrounded by the likes of Chris Jones, Allen Bailey, and at times Justin Houston and either Dee Ford or Breeland Speaks should make Nnadi’s job a bit easier this season. This was a very good pick that doesn’t get the credit it deserves.

Dorian O’Daniel- A

It should be no secret that O’Daniel is a bit small to play linebacker at this level, but he’s a perfect size for a safety. The intrigue with this pick is how the Kansas City Chiefs play defense. Eric Berry has been used multiple ways over his career, with Bob Sutton often putting him in the box to help against the run and the pass rush.

O’Daniel fits this spot perhaps even better than Berry does, as far as playing in the box. Dorian gives the defense an extra linebacker and an extra man in the secondary all at once. This will leave defenses having to account for one more guy on defense. Depending on the scheme, Dorian will likely see plenty of game time as well as from the sideline.

The fact that he is good friends with new Chiefs corner Kendall Fuller adds to the intrigue. Fuller himself is the exact type of defender that O’Daniel appears to be.