Joseph Ossai fits the mold of what KC Chiefs are looking for at linebacker

The KC Chiefs need help at linebacker. Joseph Ossai would help them fill a big hole at the position. 

Anthony Hitchens and Willie Gay are set to return at linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs this year, but that isn’t good enough. The team needs to find a linebacker who can provide for this team at the position like Derrick Johnson did for years. Coincidentally, they draft another Texas linebacker in Chris Trapasso’s recent mock draft on CBS Sports, making Joseph Ossai their first-round pick.

"Ossai crushed his pro day workout and has an ascending toolbox of pass-rushing moves."

I’d be perfectly fine with the Chiefs drafting a linebacker at some point in the draft and Ossai is a great player, but this feels like a reach. Trapasso listed on his blurb that Ossai is the No. 80 prospect in the draft (and he’s the No. 48 prospect according to The Draft Network) yet has KC taking him at pick No. 31. While Trapasso mentions that Ossai’s pro day workout went well, I’m not sure that merits moving up so far on draft boards.

That being said, Ossai would be a good fit for the Chiefs, so if they feel like he won’t be on the board in the second round, perhaps this ends up being a good move by them. Ossai finished the 2020 season with 55 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles through nine games. The previous year saw him rack up 90 tackles, five sacks, and two interceptions through 13 games with the Longhorns.

The KC Chiefs need a linebacker and Joseph Ossai will likely be available at pick No. 31.

As I mentioned earlier, Ossai isn’t a first-round prospect as of now. A lot can change between now and the draft, but this would be a major reach by Kansas City. If this is the route the Chiefs decided to take, a better strategy would be to trade out of the first round, collect another draft pick in the process, and then take Ossai with their second-rounder.

While I wouldn’t love taking Ossai in the first round, taking him in the second or third round would be a huge win for this team. They’ve struggled to find good players at linebacker and pairing Ossai with Gay and Hitchens in 2021 could give them some potential at the position moving forward.

As of now, the Chiefs haven’t made any moves concerning the linebacker position and they’ll definitely be looking to add depth there in the draft. If they do, hopefully Joseph Ossai is on their radar past round one.