KC Chiefs: Potential small school prospects to target in 2021 NFL Draft

KC Chiefs Small School Prospects

Reed Blankenship, Safety, Middle Tennessee 

Middle Tennessee product Reed Blankenship is the type of prospect the Chiefs may look at late in the draft or as an undrafted free agent as someone to potentially help replace the role of Daniel Sorensen should the veteran safety leave in free agency.

A strong middle of the field player, Blankenship (from the same school as current Chiefs corner Charvarius Ward) is the physical type player capable of helping stop the run and can add some elements in coverage in the passing game as well.

While Blankenship is a nice prospect, he’s a fringe draftable prospect that perhaps has overachieved but is a gritty, hard-working prospect unafraid of contact but, if used properly, the opportunity is there for him to contribute. He does not appear to have the instincts (which is not rare for a draft prospect compared to a veteran) Sorensen has.

Blankenship is far more a long-term developmental project than an immediate-type prospect.

KC Chiefs Small School Prospects

Dillon Radunz, Offensive Tackle, North Dakota State

Up until the AFC Championship Game, I didn’t view the offensive tackle position to be nearly the need as some in the national media were making it out to be. Even with Eric Fisher’s injury, I don’t know that I view the position, at this point, to be a first round priority.

However, with an Achilles injury, nothing can be taken for granted and despite the return from opt-outs of Lucas Niang and Laurent Duvarney-Tardiff, the Chiefs should at least look at left tackle in the middle rounds.

Radunz, at least at this point, plays and looks a lot like Fisher at this stage of development. Both are of very similar size (Fisher was 6’7″/306 pounds coming into the draft in 2013 while Radunz is listed 6’6″/302 pounds). Perhaps my biggest concern is I have some concerns with his lateral speed on speed rushers (and an indication he could be better served at guard) and that he looks a year away, which doesn’t fully fulfill and satisfy the want of an immediate, short-term stop gap left tackle.

The Bison product does appear to have a ‘nastier’ demeanor than Fisher at this point. With some coaching and weight development, Radunz is the type of prospect, because of his experience at left tackle, who could help buy time for the Chiefs until Fisher returns while also providing a versatile, athletic lineman to develop.