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29	August 2019

The Chiefs add an intriguing running ba

ck late in the NFL Draft."WhiteSeries Stagner ThingsLottery Tickets �19Summer of SpagsMailbagFanposts Fanshots Community Community GuidelinesContactAbout StubHub ✕NFL DraftChiefs 2019 draftNFL Draft results: Chiefs select Utah State RB Darwin Thompson at No. 214New Xavier Williams Jersey ,57commentsThe Chiefs add an intriguing running back late in the NFL Draft.CDTShareTweetShareShareNFL Draft results: Chiefs select Utah State RB Darwin Thompson at No. 214The Kansas City Chiefs used the second of two sixth-round picks on Utah State running back Darwin Thompson, who is an intriguing prospect that could stick.RB Darwin ThompsonUtah State � 5�8� � 200 lbs.Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports(report powered by the KC DRAFT GUIDE, published on 4/8)EXPECTED DRAFT RANGE: Day threeBACKGROUND: Junior college transfer and was second-team All-American his sophomore season. His uncle, David Thompson, played running back for the St. Louis Rams from 1997-99. 2018 second-team All-Mountain West. STRENGTHS: Thompson is a small and shifty running back. He makes sharp lateral cuts and is elusive in space. One of his best traits is that he gives defenders a small target to hit, even though they don�t have much to anyway. He avoids giant hits because of this and is able to force missed tackles after contact because he keeps himself clean. Thompson showed some ability as a pass catcher and route runner. His change of direction should come in handy as he develops his route-running abilities. He has natural hands and is dangerous on swings as he�s hard to bring down. Averaged over 15 yards per catch in his only season at Utah State. WEAKNESSES: Thompson enters the NFL with vision questions. He too often missed opportunities in zone concepts that were apparent and could�ve led to more productive touches. He gets swallowed by blitzing defend- ers in pass protection and no amount of technical work will allow him to overcome his ability to be trusted with those responsibilities. Will never be a guy who is going to run away from people as his long speed is average to below average. HOW HE FITS WITH THE CHIEFS: Thompson brings traits to the table that are not on the Chiefs roster currently such excellent change of direction and elusiveness in space. He is not the well-built, powerful back but wins by making people miss. He shows some ability in the passing game that could be intriguing to the Chiefs and that will likely be a big part of how he carves out a role on an NFL team. If the Chiefs want a running back with more pass catcher traits, you could see Thompson thrown into the mix on day three of the draft. PLAYER COMP: Tarik CohenReaction: Darwin Thompson is a fun pick this late in the draft. He�s electric in space and made people look silly in the Mountain West. I gave him a Tarik Cohen comp in the KC Draft Guide, and I could see him sticking. The biggest question for me is the contact balance. It looks great against lesser competition Jordan Lucas Jersey , so if it shows up against bigger players in tighter spaces, Thompson has a role. Thompson possesses pass-catcher traits that could be a nice addition to the Chiefs offense. He�s not the big back the Chiefs typically covet, but he is a change of pace that could be a legitimate value this late. Thompson would be interesting to watch out on swing routes, where he can operate against smaller defenders. I�m excited to see him at training camp. Chiefs 2019 NFL Draft picks (six picks)Round 2: Pick No. 56 overall � Georgia WR Mecole HardmanRound 2: Pick No. 63 overall � Virginia S Juan ThornhillRound 3: Pick No. 84 overall � Western Illinois DT Khalen SaundersRound 6: Pick No. 201 overall � South Carolina CB Rashad FentonRound 6: Pick No. 214 overall � Utah State RB Darwin ThompsonRound 7: Pick No. 216 overall � Illinois C Nick AllegrettiSelection time limitsDay 2: Round 2 (seven minutes per pick) � Round 3 (five minutes per pick)Day 3: Rounds 4-6 (five minutes per pick) � Round 7 (four minutes per pick)(Compensatory picks = four minutes) Sammy Watkins was supposed to be a game-changing star when the Buffalo Bills drafted him fourth overall in 2014, the kind of speedy wide receiver that could make plays all over the field.It never worked out that way.Watkins had a 1,000-yard season and was reasonably productive, but he never quite hit the stardom that was expected of him. And along the way, he gained a reputation for being demanding, difficult and at times downright sulky as the number of passes that went his way reached a nadir."I was young and kind of ego-tripping Damien Williams Jersey ," Watkins said, quite matter-of-factly, after helping the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos 30-23 on Sunday to complete a season sweep.The 25-year-old Watkins played a big part in the win, too. He caught eight passes for 107 yards and two scores, and drew some of the attention from the rest of the Chiefs' stars, who all seemed to produce at crucial times as Kansas City continued its dominance of the AFC West.So what changed between Watkins in Buffalo and Watkins in Kansas City? What has enabled a guy with blazing speed, strong hands and physical size to finally become a breakout star?Well, mostly maturity."I kind of went to the Rams last year and I was in the same situation with a lot of other weapons. I learned a lot," Watkins said. "It's not about me or any one guy on this team."The Chiefs' decision to sign Watkins in free agency raised some eyebrows Tyrann Mathieu Jersey , not only because they had pressing needs elsewhere but because their offense was already quite potent. They had a star-in-the-making in Tyreek Hill, the reigning NFL rushing champion in Kareem Hunt and one of the best tight ends in the game in Travis Kelce, so adding Watkins to the mix seemed to be superfluous.But they wound up signing him to a $48 million, three-year deal anyway, then listened as all the pundits criticized the move throughout the summer and right into training camp.Nobody is criticizing it much these days."His approach has been unbelievable," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "He just comes out, works hard. He's not concerned with how many catches he has or any of that. For a big-time receiver, that's unique. He knows there's only one ball and we have a bunch of pretty good players, and when you have an opportunity Steven Nelson Jersey , be a part of that. He's done that. He's done a nice job of that."Watkins was relatively quiet in an opening win over the Chargers, but he had six catches for 100 yards the following week at Pittsburgh. He had his first TD catch in a win over the 49ers at Arrowhead Stadium, then had his best game to date against the Broncos on Sunday.One was a crafty buttonhook route, where Watkins found a soft spot in the middle of the Denver defense and ran untouched 10 yards for the score. The other was a 13-yard touchdown reception.The fact that both came in the red zone is hardly a surprise: That's where Watkins is dangerous."It feels great," he said, "not just to score two times but to get the win. To do it at a high level and just go out there and play my style of game, running around, having fun, throwing some good blocks and have everybody catch a lot of balls."Sounds like a team-first player Tony Gonzalez Jersey , rather than the me-first guy Watkins used to be."It's always good to see Sammy go off," Kelce said. "He brings such a confidence in everything he does. You're happy for the guy because of the type of person he is and how hard he works during the week. It's awesome to see him have a day like he had."Notes: Reid said Monday he hadn't heard the comments made by the Broncos claiming that the Chiefs stretch the rules offensively by getting their offensive linemen too far downfield on their run-pass option plays. "I always ask officials beforehand if there is anything I need to tell my guys and that's never been an issue," Reid said. ... Reid did not have any injury updates Monday, though he did say LB Frank Zombo (hamstring) was probably the most serious of them. LB Anthony Hitchens (ribs) and WR Tyreek Hill (groin) also left Sunday's game against the Broncos.