Melvin Ingram is mostly perceived as a top ten talent in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. As a dominant pass rusher for South Carolina, Ingram is expected to be taken between 5 and 10 overall in most mock drafts. That’s what makes it interesting for the Kansas City Chiefs to land him in Jonathan Bales’ latest mock for the New York Times
The Chiefs take Ingram at No. 11 in Bales’ latest entry. He writes, “After thinking about team needs and Ingram’s skills, I think this is the lowest he could possibly fall.” The Chiefs would not have him available at that spot if they did not win the coin flip with the Seattle Seahawks during the NFL Combine. The Seahawks ended up at No. 12 in the first round.
Ingram is likely to be an OLB in the 3-4 defense of the Chiefs, which means Ingram and Justin Houston will split time or be used in various ways depending on the sub package. It gives Romeo Crennel another high octane pass rusher to use with Tamba Hali and Houston, who came on strong with 5.5 sacks in the final 5 games of the regular season.
Wes Bunting of the National Football Post loves Ingram as the best outside linebacker in the draft. He writes, “He is an impressive pass rusher who can get after the QB in a number of ways. Ingram is raw with his technique and can get better, but his suddenness, length and natural feel for the game makes me think he’s one of the draft’s best senior pass rushers.”
Matthew Fairburn over at Mocking the Draft calls him one of the top pass rushers available in the first round and has him second off the board after Quinton Coples of North Carolina. He writes, “Melvin Ingram does not possess the physical ability of Quinton Coples, but he is a versatile and hard working pass rusher.”
Ingram had 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and 2 interceptions last year for the Gamecocks.
For more on the Kansas City Chiefs offseason plans and the upcoming draft, check out Arrowhead Pride.