Chiefs believe fourth-rounder Joshua Kaindoh will overcome injury to shine as a pro

After addressing linebacker and offensive line on NFL Draft Day 2, the Kansas City Chiefs began Day 3 by selecting Florida State defensive end Joshua Kaindoh with the No. 144 overall pick in the fourth round.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach called Kaindoh a “prototypical Steve Spagnuolo defensive end” when he spoke to the media on Monday morning. Kaindoh checks in at 6-feet-6 and 260 pounds.

“He’s long, athletic,” said Veach of Kaindoh. “He has some work to do in regards to his development, so he had an injury a couple years ago that really put him back.”

Kaindoh appeared in three games (with one start) before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in 2019.

“Sometimes those injuries make it more difficult for you to return,” added Veach. “He had some lingering effects off that into this season, but again going back to the medical staff and the work we’ve done, like the way that’s healed up now, and again, he’s a guy that has a ton of potential. His size, length and overall skill level, is exactly what we’re looking for, great kid, smart, will catch on quick. We think he’ll come in here and fit in right away and I think the more he gets to be with Brendan Daly and that defensive line room, we think that talent will come out, but we’re excited to work with him skill set wise. He has all the tools you look for at that position.”

Kaindoh came back in 2020 to start all eight games in which he appeared, recording 13 tackles (including 3.0 for loss), one interception and one pass breakup. Kaindoh did not record a sack in 2020, but that did not stop the Chiefs from liking his traits.

“Kaindoh is a very talented individual,” said area scout David Hinson. “He has all the tools that you’re looking for. He’s got the length, he’s got strength, he’s got speed, he’s got all the things that you’re looking for. He’s just been a little banged up over the last couple years. That’s kind of held him back, but we’re excited about what kind of player he could be in the future.”

With the addition of Kaindoh, the defensive end battle opposite Frank Clark should be one to watch when Chiefs training camp begins in August. The fourth-rounder should compete with Taco Charlton, Mike Danna and Tim Ward for snaps along the edge.

“I think any time you get to the mid-rounds, you’re looking for traits,” noted assistant director of player personnel Ryan Poles. “That length, the explosion and as I mentioned with coach Daly being such a good coach, when you put that together, you hope you can get him to reach his ceiling. That’s what we saw with him. Obviously, we know, the injuries have been documented, but we believe we can get the best out of him. We’ve got a great training staff and obviously again to go back to our process, we went through it with our medical staff and they felt comfortable that we could get this guy to optimal performance level.”