3 NFL Draft prospects the Chiefs should avoid

2. Nick Bolton, Linebacker, Missouri

The Chiefs spent a second-round selection on Willie Gay in last year’s draft and he turned into a key contributor for their defense down the stretch of the 2020 regular season. Kansas City could still benefit from adding another playmaker on the second level this year.

Bolton is a tackling machine that also flashed some coverage ability during his collegiate career at Missouri. He’ll be best deployed as a middle linebacker at the next level. The problem with slotting him there as a starter is that he’s slightly undersized to hold up as a guy who can stay on the field for all three downs.

There are also questions about Bolton’s ability to hold up in man-to-man coverage. His success in college came during zone schemes. It’s still going to be a massive adjustment for Bolton to show he can play in space against NFL playmakers.

Bolton would be a decent pick in the middle rounds for the Chiefs, but he lacks the juice to hear his name called in Round 1. If Kansas City wants to add a linebacker at No. 32 they should take a swing on a player with more upside. Bolton just doesn’t profile as a guy who will likely become a legitimate difference-maker at the next level.