On Tuesday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler continued his annual survey sequence with NFL off-ball linebackers. To give you the rankings, Fowler polls the NFL’s high executives, coaches and scouts to create positional rankings.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs operating again Isaiah Pacheco was named an honorable point out within the preliminary column launched final Monday, and Chris Jones earned the highest spot for defensive tackles final Tuesday. After lacking out on a consultant for defensive ends on Wednesday, the Chiefs scored one other honorable point out with Justin Reid on Thursday — and on Friday, tight finish Travis Kelce narrowly topped the league’s tight ends.
The weekend noticed the Chiefs with three inside offensive linemen within the high 10, and Monday introduced the pointless affirmation that Patrick Mahomes continues to be the very best quarterback within the NFL.
Fourth-year linebacker Nick Bolton has usually caught his share of polarizing commentary from native fanalysts in Kansas Metropolis. However in keeping with the parents truly making the choices, he’s a consensus top-five off-ball linebacker within the NFL:
5. Nick Bolton, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Highest rating: 3 | Lowest rating: UnrankedAge: 24 | Final yr’s rating: 8
Right here’s fairly the praise for Bolton: He’s “the closest factor to Fred Warner” within the NFL due to his soccer instincts, in keeping with one NFL defensive coach.
A wrist damage value Bolton important time in 2023, however he nonetheless managed 40 tackles in 4 playoff video games on the way in which to the Tremendous Bowl.
“Quick, bodily, powerful, good for his or her scheme, assignment-sound,” an NFC scout stated. “Cleans up leakage vs. the run and never a throwaway on passing downs.”
An NFC exec countered that whereas Bolton has a number of qualities you’re keen on in a linebacker, he’s not a top-end athlete like a number of the others within the high 10.
Bolton has shored up the MIKE linebacker place for the Chiefs for the reason that departure of eight-year professional Anthony Hitchens, who groomed Bolton throughout the 2021 season. Hitchen’s steering allowed Kansas Metropolis to go youthful and cheaper with Bolton in 2022. He has since turn into certainly one of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s “glue” guys.
However now, the 24-year-old is getting into the ultimate yr of his rookie contract, with veteran report day set for Sunday. As talked about within the write-up for Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith, Bolton is a type of gamers Kansas Metropolis wish to retain previous their preliminary contract.
Maybe we are going to see the Missouri product get an extension within the coming weeks.
