Chiefs draft rumors: Trading up for Reuben Foster?
By Ynal Al-Ouri
The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly been discussing trading up in the NFL draft to improve their linebacking unit.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the main teams involved in NFL Draft rumors. It was reported earlier Thursday that the Chiefs were potentially trying to trade up for Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
I'm told those around the league expect Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes to go top 10. Chiefs known to love him, have entertained trade up.
— Matthew Fairburn (@MatthewFairburn) April 27, 2017
Now a report has been released that the Chiefs were indeed trying to trade up, but for an inside linebacker instead of a quarterback.
Word from a league source: Chiefs trying to move up, but for an ILB and not a QB. Reuben Foster/Jarrad Davis maybe?
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 27, 2017
That is a complete 180 from what we were hearing about the Chiefs earlier, but that is the nature of this business as we have become accustomed to. The Chiefs already have a solid quarterback in Alex Smith, but he is getting older and will be a free agent come to the 2019 season.
On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs could use a boost in their linebacking core specifically at inside linebacker. They could potentially go after linebacker Reuben Foster out of Alabama, or Jarrad Davis out of Florida.
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Both linebackers would provide a great boost to the Chiefs defense. They both have good size at the position and both play with a lot of physicality. Unfortunately though, they both come with some concerns as Foster has had off-the-field issues documented, and Davis has had injury concerns that have teams a bit nervous. Both are well worth taking a risk on though, as it could pay off immensely.