Kansas City Chiefs: Players to follow at 2020 NFL Combine
By John McCarty
Quietly, the tight end position is in need of help. Travis Kelce is getting old and there is nothing behind him.
Travis Kelce is approaching the point where the Kansas City Chiefs will have to start making decisions about his future. He’s still productive, but in the NFL, the ability to produce can be gone just that fast. That means the Chiefs have to ensure they have a tight end capable of producing, and have depth at the position.
Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet is likely the best prospect and would require the Chiefs to use pick 32 on him, as he won’t be on the board in round two barring something unusual. He is both a capable blocker and solid receiver at this point, and if the Chiefs move on from Anthony Sherman this offseason, going to a double tight end set instead could provide the ever creative Andy Reid different options.
Adam Trautman from Dayton is an intriguing blend of size and speed coming from a smaller level, but he’s not ready to contribute immediately. Brycen Hopkins of Purdue is a touch shorter than one would prefer at the position and is another capable two way tight end.
Maybe not early, but plan on the Chiefs drafting a receiver to help replace Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson.
Outside of quarterback, the two most important position groups on the Chiefs roster is at corner and wide receiver. If the Chiefs can stop the pass, but also make sure they are able to continue being really good to prolific in the passing game, they will continually compete for the AFC Championship basically regardless of the other positions.
The Chiefs will need to add another receiver to the roster. With Watkins and Robinson leaving and only Byron Pringle behind them, adding another speedy target is a must. Bryan Edwards of South Carolina is the best blend of speed, hands and some size coming from the SEC East.
Boise State’s John Hightower has battled some injury issues, but has a good size of speed and size and has experience on special teams. He’s the type of player that goes in the middle rounds and is either out of the league in a few years or is highly productive, so he’s truly a boom or bust kind of talent.
Michael Pittman from USC has good size and is really strong, but is not as quick or fast as the other two, but he could be a nice different player than what’s currently on the roster.