The #8 class of 2020 produced key starters at all levels for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Coming off a Super Bowl win and holding the #32 pick, the Chiefs selected the first running back off the board in Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Coming off a year where Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy were the leading rushers with less than 500 yards, there’s been a massive void left from Jamaal Charles several years prior that they thought they’d fill with Kareem Hunt, but he was cut during his second season after assaulting a woman. CEH was thought to fill that role, and had a good rookie year with 1,100 total yards, but his production fell every year. He missed seven games in 2021 and was outproduced by Darrel Williams. He entered 2022 as the starter, but lost his job by Week 7 to rookie Isiah Pacheco, who started the rest of the season, and lost passing back duties to Jerick McKinnon. He had an even lesser role in 2023 after his fifth-year option was declined, and is likely headed out of Kansas City.
Willie Gay has 47 starts in 57 games and turned into a vital linebacker in that defense. His pairing with Nick Bolton formed one of the best linebacker duos in the league. Off-ball linebackers will come at a premium in today’s game, and Gay will command a good market.
After opting out of his rookie season due to COVID-19, Lucas Niang entered 2021 as the starting right tackle. He started nine games before injury, and has only been a backup since.
The star of this class is L’Jarius Sneed. After six starts as a rookie, Sneed’s started every game he’s played in, and has always been a good player, but really put it together in 2023. He was clutch in the playoffs and his play helped them win a Super Bowl. He just received the franchise tag and there is already talk of a trade. The Chiefs did tag and trade Dee Ford back in 2019 so they’re no stranger to that tactic, but Sneed is a very good starter that they should pay. They have a lot of contracts to deal with and a lot of superstars, so doing so will be difficult, but Sneed has really developed into a top 10 cornerback in this league as a fourth-round pick.
Mike Danna has quietly been a productive pass rusher for the Chiefs. He had a very good 2023 starting 16 games and set a career-high in sacks with 6.5, fourth on the team, and 17 in his career. He won’t get massive money, but he’s a player that can provide very good pass rush depth.
BoPete Keyes has been a member of eight NFL teams, almost exclusively on practice squads after spending his rookie year with KC. Tershawn Wharton was a quietly good find as an undrafted defensive tackle, playing 55 games while missing most of 2022 with a torn ACL.
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