In 2019, the Kansas City Chiefs got quality production from their rookie class and even got two eventual starters in wide receiver Mecole Hardman and safety Juan Thornhill. They also picked up a few players, such as cornerback Rashad Fenton and defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, who look to move up the depth chart and compete for a larger role on the team in the season ahead.
As General Manager Brett Veach and the rest of the Chiefs’ front office move further into the 2020 off-season, hopes are high for this year’s rookie class to be just as productive as the last.
Though the future isn’t written yet and while there’s no way of knowing how these player’s pro careers will play out, it doesn’t hurt to make some way-too-early predictions for how the rookie campaigns for the Chiefs’ 2020 draft class will unfold.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire – RB – LSU
Clyde Edwards-Helaire was an absolute monster at LSU and has the potential to be the finishing touch to the Chiefs’ near unstoppable offense. At 5-foot-7-inches, 210-pounds, and a running style that it compared to Priest Holmes, Darren Sproles, and Maurice Jones-Drew, Edwards-Helaire allows the Chiefs to do a lot of different things in the backfield that they weren’t able to do before. He can take runs to the outside or up the middle, he’s perfect for the screen game (and you know Andy Reid loves his screenplays), he’ll give Pat Mahomes an option to throw to underneath if he feels pressure, and may also be an asset on special teams as a return man for Dave Toub.
That being said, I don’t believe Edwards-Helaire will be the team’s day-one starter. That role belongs to Damien Williams, as it should be, however, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to see Edwards-Helaire spend his rookie campaign as the number two back as a complement to Williams, whom the rookie can learn from as he adjusts to the speed of the NFL level.
Prediction: 16 games (6 starts), 98 rushing attempts, 410 yards, 6 TDs – 25 receptions, 160 yards, 2 TDs
Willie Gay Jr. – LB – Mississippi State
Willie Gay was what some might call, a ‘head hunter’ while at Mississippi State and could very well be an early front runner to replace Reggie Ragland as the team’s run-stuffing linebacker. According to multiple reports from defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the team is “hopeful” that’s the case. The Chiefs are rather thin at linebacker and as untrustworthy as Dorian O’Daniel has been since getting drafted in 2018, the starting SAM linebacker role could already be Gay’s job to lose despite him never stepping on an NFL field along on top of a limited off-season.
Nonetheless, watching Gay compete with other unproven players, such as O’Daniel, for one of the two outside linebacking roles will be a position battle to keep an eye on. As for the Chiefs, they seem to be optimistic that it’ll be their second-round draft choice that comes out on top when it’s all said and done.
As thin as Kansas City’s linebacking core is, the more I believe Gay could become a day-one starter for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. While, there are a few worries about his character, on and off the field, from past altercations he’s had in college, the Chiefs have the locker room atmosphere that rallies around troubled players that should help with Gay’s development as a player and as a person. That being said, I think there will be a learning curve for the young 22-year-old, but still, expect him to have a rather productive rookie campaign.
Prediction: 16 games (10 starts), 77 tackles (49 solo), 28 assists, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks
Lucas Niang – OL – TCU
Standing at 6-foot-7-inches and 328-pounds, I’m personally super excited about Lucas Niang’s potential at the NFL level. Since 2017, Niang took 975 pass-blocking snaps while at TCU without a single sack allowed.
If Niang can translate his skills to the pro game, he not only provides solid o-line depth for Kansas City but gives the Chiefs a bright future as a potential starter at some point in the coming years.
Dictating whether Niang makes the team or not is hard to say at this point. There’s no way of knowing for sure he makes the team immediately for his rookie season. However, it’s also difficult to say he’ll have a hard time competing against teammates Nick Allegretti and Ryan Hunter, who were both awful in 2019.
That being said, Allegretti and Hunter, both have pro experience as compared to Niang and unless he catches the coaching staff’s attention early and often, he’ll likely start his NFL career deep on Kansas City’s depth chart and could even spend 2020 on the practice squad.
Prediction: No stats
L’Jarius Sneed – CB – LA Tech
L’Jarius Snead provides the Chiefs with a versatile player that can play both corner and safety, which allows him to be able to play from anywhere on the field. That, coupled with 4.3 speed provides a lethal combination that could find himself some early playing time in 2020.
Since Bashaud Breeland’s arrest earlier this year, Kansas City could go an extensive amount of time without one of their starting defensive backs leaving the door wide open for young corners like Snead to make an early impact towards a starting role.
While he can play at safety, Snead seems to be more comfortable playing at the corner position and could find himself as Kansas City’s nickel cornerback. That being said, he’ll be competing with Charvarious Ward, Antonio Hamilton, Rashad Fenton, and BoPete Keyes for roster spots on Steve Spagnuolo’s secondary which will make for an interesting position battle to keep an eye on when training camp begins.
Right now, the Chiefs have a very young secondary and I believe Snead is going to receive playing time in 2020 as long as he’s healthy. Question is, how much? One thing’s for sure, Breeland is going to get some sort of disciplinary action which will translate into a suspension that currently has no time table of how long he’ll be gone. That being said, I think Snead could make it pretty high on the depth chart as the team’s nickel or dime back in 2020.
Prediction: 14 games, 20 tackles (15 solo), 5 assists, 2 interceptions
Mike Danna – DE – Michigan
Admittedly, I’m interested as to where Mike Danna fits in the Chiefs’ large room of defensive ends. Coming out of Michigan, Danna has the tools to compete for a spot in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. He has the speed to come off the end to get after the passer, as well as, the strength to bull rush or go inside to help with stopping the run.
The question I have is, where does he fit on the team’s depth chart?
Frank Clark and Alex Okafor already have the starting roles wrapped up and underneath, Danna will compete with Tanoh Kpassagnon, Demone Harris, Breeland Speaks, who returns from injury, and Taco Charlton, who the team signed a few months ago.
This, of course, depends on how many defensive ends GM Brett Veach and Andy Reid’s coaching staff decide to keep on the final roster.
There are also a few rumors that Danna could be converted to play linebacker which would make sense if true, considering how thin the team is at the position.
That said, there’s no telling where or how Danna fits on the Chiefs defensive unit right now, but he could make it on Dave Toub’s special teams if nothing else.
Prediction: 16 games, 10 tackles
BoPete Keyes – CB – Tulane
Brett Veach’s final pick of the 2020 NFL draft is an athletic corner out of Tulane that has the potential to compete as the dime cornerback spot in the secondary.
Keyes set career highs last season at Tulane with 47 tackles and has the tools to compete at the next level. Standing at 6-foot-one-inch and 202-pounds, BoPete Keyes has the athleticism and awareness needed to be good in coverage.
Much like L’Jarius Sneed, Keyes could see early playing time due to impending consequences towards Bashaud Breeland following his arrest a few months earlier.
According to reports, the Chiefs love Keyes’ versatility and he may have an opportunity to be the team’s future in the dime slot.
He may also participate on special teams during his rookie season.
Prediction: 16 games, 15 tackles
