A name you've seen on 2016 NFL mock drafts is visiting the Kansas City Chiefs. Or he has already. This report from a couple weeks ago that I just now noticed indicated the Chiefs are one of at least 15 teams that Louisiana Tech DL Vernon Butler is visiting.
"Butler has a raw but diverse skillset as a pass rusher that should excite NFL evaluators who see the potential of what he can be with more coaching and experience," his NFL.com draft profile reads. "With his effort and defensive ball awareness, his ceiling appears to be high with a chance to become a high-level starter for an odd or even front defense."
Butler is a name you probably didn't know until draft season. At least I didn't. The Chiefs are picking 28th and Butler's name has been mocked there before. The Chiefs could use defensive line help but it's not an emergency situation. Allen Bailey and Jaye Howard are under contract for two more years while Dontari Poe is entering a contract year.
Speaking of Poe, Butler makes sense because of him. The Chiefs have previously identified one of their players hitting free agency and drafting that position to prepare for it -- Eric Fisher-Branden Albert, Dee Ford-Tamba Hali / Justin Houston and Marcus Peters-Sean Smith. Poe is scheduled to be a free agent after this year.
Drafting a defensive lineman like Butler would allow the Chiefs some flexibility. Of course you want to keep Poe but it's also going to be very, very expensive. I'm on board with a defensive lineman for that reason.