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Kansas City Chiefs: What Bryan Wright can provide in 2020

By Leigh Oleszczak

CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 5: Bryan Wright #95 of the Cincinnati Bearcats lines up for a play during the game against the BYU Cougars at Nippert Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 5: Bryan Wright #95 of the Cincinnati Bearcats lines up for a play during the game against the BYU Cougars at Nippert Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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What should the Kansas City Chiefs expect from Cincinnati linebacker Bryan Wright in 2020?

In the final write-up on what to expect from the Kansas City Chiefs‘ UDFAs, we come to Bryan Wright of Cincinnati. Wright spent the final two years at Cincinnati as a linebacker, but prior to that was a defensive end.

There’s no debating that linebacker is an area of weakness for the Chiefs and has been for the past few years. For that reason, Wright has a chance of making an impact this year.

Can Bryan Wright find his way onto the field in 2020?

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Fortunately for Wright, the Chiefs have a strong need at linebacker. Anthony Hitchens hasn’t been the player the Chiefs were hoping for when they signed him in 2018 and Damien Wilson is on the last year of his deal. Kansas City drafted Willie Gay in the second round of this year’s draft with the hopes of him becoming that next sideline to sideline linebacker the Chiefs haven’t had since Derrick Johnson was released.

Wright put up impressive numbers at Cincinnati, notching 99 tackles (14.5 for loss) and four and a half sacks this past season. He was a big part of their 2019 season and him not getting drafted was a bit surprising.

That being said, the AAC isn’t exactly the toughest competition there is out there. Wright will have to prove he can put up those same numbers against stealthier competition.

When looking at the rest of the linebacker depth, however, the Chiefs could certainly use some help. Hitchens and Wilson are the two main ones and Gay should get a considerable amount of play this year. Ben Niemann and Dorian O’Daniel could also be names to watch this summer, but they’ve both had their time to truly shine and aren’t going to be the long-term answers at the position.

Wright is only one of two UDFA linebackers and that gives him as good a chance as any to make the 55-man roster this fall. He’s not going to be a starter, but if injuries occur, he could be slotted into certain rotations and should definitely be able to contribute on special teams.

The linebacker position is one that needs some serious upgrading and hopefully Bryan Wright can provide some kind of depth for the Chiefs this year.

What expectations do you have for the Cincinnati linebacker in the 2020 season?

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