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Chiefs should pounce on Rueben Foster if he falls in the draft

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 11: Reuben Foster #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates after defeating the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 11, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Crimson Tide defeated the Tigers with a score of 45 to 40. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster was once considered a surefire top-10 pick in this week’s draft. Recent developments since the end of the season have hurt his draft stock, to the point where there is a chance the Chiefs will have an opportunity to draft what is easily the draft’s top inside linebacker. This is why the Chiefs should jump at such an opportunity:

  • Long-time stalwart and possible Hall of Fame candidate Derrick Johnson is not only coming off an Achilles injury, but also his worst (relatively full) season since 2009. While his run-stop percentage remained steady from 2015 to 2016, He surrendered a 92.0 passer rating into his coverage, up from 70.0 in 2015.
  • Former fourth-rounder pick Ramik Wilson emerged after being thrust into the lineup in Week 7, generating seven good games, three average games and two poor games. Behind Wilson, however, Justin March-Lillard, D.J. Alexander, and Terrance Smith have all struggled in limited action, and safety Daniel Sorensen was less than impressive when asked to play more in the box after Johnson’s injury.
  • Foster’s ability in the run game, in coverage and as a blitzer would be a game-changer for a Chiefs defense that is already full of playmakers. If they miss on a quarterback in round 1, the next best outcome would be for Foster to fall to a palatable place for the Chiefs to use their four picks in the top 104 to get their stud inside linebacker of the future.

Reuben Foster Spider Chart

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