ESPN’s Bill Williamson took a closer look at the volatile stock of Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict and believes the Kansas City Chiefs are the best fit among AFC West teams. Given the team’s longing to bring in better competition all around and their ability to take the best player on the board, Burfict is the high-risk, high-reward pick the Chiefs could employ here.
Williamson writes, “This is an interesting fit. The Chiefs could use an inside linebacker for their 3-4 system. Burfict would benefit from playing for Romeo Crennel. The Chiefs gambled and scored with outside linebacker Justin Houston in the third round last year. They could do the same thing here. I’d say they would be the favorites in the division to draft Burfict.”
Burfict had 69 tackles and 5 sacks last season, but his ceiling is much, much higher than those numbers display. Opposing Views wrote recently, “With a solid defensive minded head coach and veteran linebackers honing his raw talent and gifted athleticism, his ceiling is immeasurable.”
Then again, Pro Football Talk recently summed up the miserable last year for Burfict: “Burfict managed only 16 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press[at his Pro Day]. With poor measurables and game tape, and suspect on- and off-the-field character, Burfict may struggle to be drafted at all in April.”
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