Chiefs pull off fantastic trade for Bills LB Reggie Ragland

Kansas City now has a potential star in linebacker Reggie Ragland

The Buffalo Bills continue to clean house, making their fourth major trade of the preseason. Linebacker Reggie Ragland, drafted in the second round last year, is going to the Kansas City Chiefs for a fourth-round draft pick in 2019.

Ragland was a star coming out of Alabama and many predicted him to be a first round pick in 2016. A partially torn ACL suffered in the preseason last year cost Ragland his rookie season and he quickly fell out of favor with the new coaching staff.

Under head coach Doug McDermott Ragland was demoted to the third string defense as saw limited playing time coming off the knee injury. He joins Ronald Darby, Cardale Jones, and Sammy Watkins as young players sent off under the McDermott regime.

A healthy Ragland would be an incredible upgrade for Kansas City going forward, practically giving them an extra first round pick. Just 23-years-old Ragland should recover from the ACL injury and contribute similarly to his SEC Defensive Player of the Year season for the Crimson Tide when he collected 102 tackles.

Kansas City has room on their depth chart for a linebacker of Ragland’s stature. Ultimately, Ragland could step in for veteran Derrick Johnson, a 12-year veteran coming off a torn Achilles tendon. A linebacking core with Ragland and third-year starter Ramik Wilson could potentially cover the Chiefs middle linebacker position for the next decade.

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It’s all dependant on health for Ragland in Kansas City, but his off the charts athleticism and playmaking ability should carry over to the next level. It’s a potential steal for Kansas City as the Bills prepare for another stage of their rebuild.