Kansas City Chiefs: Grading each 2021 NFL Draft selection

Fast forward to the fourth round and the Kansas City Chiefs use their No. 144 overall pick on defensive end Joshua Kaindoh from Florida. Kaindoh will almost certainly be a developmental player for the Chiefs, as he had great potential in college that was dampened in college by injuries. At 6-foot-6, 260-pounds, no one can deny Kaindoh is intimidating coming off the edge. A former five-star recruit coming out of high school, Kaindoh failed to live up to the hype largely due to injuries and uneven support from the Seminoles coaching staff.

For a fourth-round prospect, the Chiefs picked up a player who could develop into a scary pass-rusher if he can stay healthy. Edge rusher was technically a need this offseason, but after re-signing depth pieces to play opposite Frank Clark on the defensive line, the Kansas City Chiefs look about as good as they did in 2020 on the pass-rush.

Kaindoh will make a fine addition to the roster, a prospect that could yield big returns if this timeline is the best of all possible worlds for Kaindoh. But even if he doesn’t pan out, it was still worth taking a flyer on a player with such high upside, especially this late in the 2021 NFL Draft. Would have liked to see them take a defensive end with a shorter injury history since Kaindoh is going to be a developmental player anyway. But considering he could end up a top-five pass-rusher if things pan out, the pick only gets deducted a few points in my book.

Grade: A-

This pick is another example of draft process being more important than results. Is former Duke tight end Noah Gray going to be the next Travis Kelce? Probably not. But he comes to the NFL as a versatile prospect that could round out into an interesting receiving option in the future. Another in the best possible timeline situation, similar to Kaindoh. Considering how dependent the Mahomes offense is on versatile pass catchers, having one more chance to draft a potential future starter is never a bad thing.

Gray was a multi-tooled offensive playmaker for Duke, lining up in the slot, in the backfield and as a blocking tight end through four seasons. But at 240 pounds, it’s hard to see him blocking against AFC West pass-rushers anytime soon. Gray only missed one game during his time at Duke, playing in a whopping 48 games. As a pass-catcher, Gray had reliable hands, with just three drops in 107 catchable passes, per PFF. Love or hate the pick, you can’t deny Gray was as reliable as the Las Vegas Raiders reaching in the first round.

Some project Gray to be a hybrid receiver/running back in the NFL, but it’s possible to see him as a developmental tight end in the Andy Reid offense. A change of pace guy on passing downs who could sit behind Kelce on the depth chart and see if any of the Pro Bowlers talents can be absorbed via osmosis. Stranger things have happened. If the Kansas City Chiefs are thinking of incorporating more 12 personnel packages, Gray would make an excellent quick game receiver to compliment Kelce on the line.

Most of Gray’s production in college was in underneath routes, something that might not work as well in the NFL where coverage is a lot more sophisticated. It’s hard to see him being an effective blocker as well. But he was a reliable starter for Duke, a receiver with great hands who could develop down the road. For a fifth-round pick, it’s pretty solid.

Grade: B+