Chiefs continue to make Steve Spagnuolo very happy with fifth-round pick
The Kansas City Chiefs just seem to know what they are doing, but especially on the defensive side of the ball by making Steve Spagnuolo happy.The Chiefs finished with the first ranked offense last year and the 11th ranked defense, so, naturally the focus should be on defense after they get their main guys the […]
The Kansas City Chiefs just seem to know what they are doing, but especially on the defensive side of the ball by making Steve Spagnuolo happy.
The Chiefs finished with the first ranked offense last year and the 11th ranked defense, so, naturally the focus should be on defense after they get their main guys the first two days. That is what they are doing on day three of the 2023 NFL Draft.
At pick 119 in the fourth round the Chiefs took defensive back Chamarri Connor, a guy that is versatile and can be an impact player in a year or two. Then in round five they went back to the defensive line drafting Stephen F. Austin defensive end BJ Thompson to help bolster the defensive line
This is a pick that should make defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo very happy, as the Chiefs are bringing in guys that can be impact players and adding depth. Thompson is a guy who can be that.
Thompson started his career at Baylor but transferred to Stephen F. Austin where he finished with five sacks last season and 20 pressures. The last three years he has played 33 games, so he is durable.
Here is what The Athletic's Dane Brugler had to say about Thompson's strengths:
Long-limbed, stretched out frame … flexible-jointed with the movement skills to bend, spin and slither around blockers … fast out of the gates with a quick get-off and long arc strides … dips his shoulder to skim the corner … bursts to close when he has a clear track to the quarterback … active feet and frenetic body/limb movements keep his pass rush alive … occasionally uses his long arms for quick stabs/jabs … has the foot quicks and change of direction to drop and use his range to cover ground … five forced fumbles over the last two seasons are a result of his long arms … had the special-teams trifecta in 2018 at Baylor with a blocked, punt, field goal and extra point.
But BJ Thompson was a late pick for a reason. he struggles with a few things according to Brugler:
Very slender body type and especially light in his legs and lower half … has always been lean (200 pounds as a high school senior) and might struggle to carry additional weight or develop strength … poor run defender and has a tough time at the point of attack versus bigger bodies … needs to more effectively use his length to leverage blocks for quick disengagement … high-cut and his pads quickly rise throughout the rep, especially on inside counters … highly inconsistent when his first move is shut down and counters don’t come naturally … doesn’t create enough energy to consistently convert his speed to power … immature decision making in the past; served a two-game suspension to start the 2018 season at Baylor and then was ultimately dismissed … will be age 24 on draft weekend.
Hopefully the Chiefs can develop him into an impact player, like they have for a while now. You know these picks have to be making Spags happy.
