2025 draft class
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Re: 2025 draft class
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CrimsonCrew
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Re: 2025 draft class
If Simmons is truly healthy, it's a huge steal for the Chiefs. Dude likely goes top-5 without the injury. That said, patellar injuries can be a tough one, and the rebound often isn't as clean as it is for a straightforward ACL tear. And on the heels of cutting Drake Jackson for his inability to come back from a patellar, there really was no chance we were going to take Simmons. Hell, we tried to trade up to take Williams as it was.
Re: 2025 draft class
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CrimsonCrew
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Re: 2025 draft class
Since we're in this thread, jury still very much out on this rookie class, but early reports from camp are promising.
Williams is dinged up, which is a concern given the ankle injury he played through all last year (did he cause permanent damage in doing so?), but he was crushing it against the run and causing problems with inside pass-rush moves prior to the injury. Hopefully he can get back on the field soon.
Not as much buzz around Collins, other than him being huge, but reports from the first day of pads were that the first-string offense was really struggling to run against this new DL. I'm assuming Collins was a part of that. The pass-rush moves need some work, seemingly.
Don't want to call CJ West a surprise, as he was a guy lots of people loved, but I don't think anyone expected the instant pass-rushing success we've been hearing about. If he can keep that up, even in a part-time role on the interior, it would be absolutely huge.
Stout has been getting in with the 1s and making plays on the ball.
I'm still a bit skeptical it can last, but Watkins has been a consistent presence on offense, and we've needed him to be. Huge play on the deep ball in the last practice, he's getting open and capitalizing on his opportunity. It would be huge if he can contribute as a rookie.
There was a lot of buzz about Martin early on. It seems to have quieted a bit as Winters has stolen the spotlight, but word is Martin is also flying around and looking good.
Even Marques Sigle has started to settle in after missing OTAs. He's started flashing his speed and intelligence.
Odds are very good that a couple of these guys will not hit. Maybe Williams never gets healthy, and Collins plays too high. Maybe one of them suffers a career-altering injury. But to date, we needed to hit on a boatload of talent in this draft, and the early returns are about as good as they can be.
Williams is dinged up, which is a concern given the ankle injury he played through all last year (did he cause permanent damage in doing so?), but he was crushing it against the run and causing problems with inside pass-rush moves prior to the injury. Hopefully he can get back on the field soon.
Not as much buzz around Collins, other than him being huge, but reports from the first day of pads were that the first-string offense was really struggling to run against this new DL. I'm assuming Collins was a part of that. The pass-rush moves need some work, seemingly.
Don't want to call CJ West a surprise, as he was a guy lots of people loved, but I don't think anyone expected the instant pass-rushing success we've been hearing about. If he can keep that up, even in a part-time role on the interior, it would be absolutely huge.
Stout has been getting in with the 1s and making plays on the ball.
I'm still a bit skeptical it can last, but Watkins has been a consistent presence on offense, and we've needed him to be. Huge play on the deep ball in the last practice, he's getting open and capitalizing on his opportunity. It would be huge if he can contribute as a rookie.
There was a lot of buzz about Martin early on. It seems to have quieted a bit as Winters has stolen the spotlight, but word is Martin is also flying around and looking good.
Even Marques Sigle has started to settle in after missing OTAs. He's started flashing his speed and intelligence.
Odds are very good that a couple of these guys will not hit. Maybe Williams never gets healthy, and Collins plays too high. Maybe one of them suffers a career-altering injury. But to date, we needed to hit on a boatload of talent in this draft, and the early returns are about as good as they can be.
Re: 2025 draft class
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clyde21
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Re: 2025 draft class
CrimsonCrew wrote:If Simmons is truly healthy, it's a huge steal for the Chiefs. Dude likely goes top-5 without the injury. That said, patellar injuries can be a tough one, and the rebound often isn't as clean as it is for a straightforward ACL tear. And on the heels of cutting Drake Jackson for his inability to come back from a patellar, there really was no chance we were going to take Simmons. Hell, we tried to trade up to take Williams as it was.
yea I wasn't bringing that up to say anything about our own pick, I had already come to the conclusion that there was no way we're going OL high regardless of who's available, just more venting that the NFL broadly allowed this guy to fall to the Chiefs of all teams lol
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Re: 2025 draft class
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Jikkle
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Re: 2025 draft class
Can't remember where but I did hear as of late he's at least been going to the whistle lately so at least he's improved there.
I'd say out of this draft class if there is going to be at least one bust it's probably Collins. I'm not saying he will bust but it seemed like he was the rawest of the rookies we drafted which always means you're rolling the dice on potential. I mean you draft the kid because you can't teach physical measurables like that and if he was a complete player coming out he would've been a 1st rounder which is why I don't mind taking him in the 2nd. That's why you pay coaches, scouts, and etc to identify guys you feel like can be coached up.
So his reports don't raise any alarm bells for me yet. Some defensive linemen take off right from the first snap and some guys it takes a couple of years to put it together. Chris Jones wasn't a force his rookie year and he really didn't take off until year 3 and became what he is today. Doesn't mean Collins is going to take that path but I'd be patient and throwing the bust label on him.
Re: 2025 draft class
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clyde21
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Re: 2025 draft class
Is he the rawest? Collins was a 5 year player at Texas and logged 60+ games, I feel like it's the opposite and he's supposed to be one of the guys with the highest floor in this class
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Re: 2025 draft class
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arich35
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Re: 2025 draft class
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CrimsonCrew
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Re: 2025 draft class
Collins wasn't brought in to be a pass rusher. Or if he was, it was a bad pick. Sure, you're hoping he can develop, but it's not what he was in college.
Collins was maybe the best player in this draft at two-gapping. He's very effective at locking up OL, keeping his eyes in the backfield, and shedding to make a tackle. That's not really what he's being asked to do now, particularly in one-on-one pass rushing. I think he'll be solid in a perhaps more limited role than some expected as a rookie, and hopefully he'll develop into more.
Collins was maybe the best player in this draft at two-gapping. He's very effective at locking up OL, keeping his eyes in the backfield, and shedding to make a tackle. That's not really what he's being asked to do now, particularly in one-on-one pass rushing. I think he'll be solid in a perhaps more limited role than some expected as a rookie, and hopefully he'll develop into more.