KC Chiefs: 5 most realistic linebacker targets in 2021 NFL Draft

The KC Chiefs need to draft a linebacker in the 2021 NFL Draft and these are five names they could potentially land at No. 31. 

The linebacker position has been an area of concern for the Kansas City Chiefs for several years now and they need to continue building the position into a strength. Losing Damien Wilson to the Jaguars isn’t a huge deal, but if the Chiefs don’t find a suitable replacement for him, then they’ll be left with Anthony Hitchens, Willie Gay, and Ben Niemann as their main linebackers for 2021.

It’d be awesome if the Chiefs could somehow land Micah Parsons out of Penn State or Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, but it’s highly unlikely that either of those guys falls to the end of the first round (though Owusu-Koramoah was projected to fall to them in a recent mock draft).

If the Chiefs decide to go with a linebacker in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, here are the names who could still be on the board at pick No. 31.

Realistic Linebacker Options for KC Chiefs

5. Jabril Cox (LSU)

The first three entries on this list aren’t guys who the Chiefs should spend a first-round pick on. If they wanted to land Jabril Cox, who is the first of the three I’ll discuss, they could trade out of round one, pick up an extra second-rounder, and grab the LSU product.

Cox played the first three years of his college career at North Dakota State and transferred to LSU for his senior season. He played well for the Tigers, totaling 58 tackles (6.5 for loss), five defended passes, three interceptions (one that he took the other way for six points), and one sack during the shortened 2020 season.

Cox should be available at pick 31 and while he’s a talented player, if the Chiefs want him, they can (and should) wait until round two to draft him.