Kansas City Chiefs: 5 2015 NFL Draft Sleepers to Target
B.J. Finney, C, Kansas State
Dec 6, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; Kansas State Wildcats offensive lineman BJ Finney (66) and quarterback Jake Waters (15) during the game against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. The Bears defeated the Wildcats 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
After losing Hudson to free agency, the center position must be addressed in the draft. Eric Kush has not shown the ability to handle the position in his short career, and while putting Jeff Allen at center is intriguing, he has played very little at the position in his career. With so many mid-to-late round selections, the Chiefs would be wise to consider a natural center at some point in this draft.
B.J. Finney sticks out as a strong option for the team who could step in and play right away. At 6-foot-4, 318 pounds, Finney has the size and strength to handle big defensive tackles in the trenches. He has fairly quick feet, and does a nice job of firing off the ball at the snap.
Finney plays like a veteran with well above average awareness on the field. He has very strong mechanics, and very rarely gets blown up on a play.
He is also considered to be a very high character player. Finney entered Kansas State as a walk-on, and redshirted his first year. After his redshirt season, he worked his way in to the starting line-up, and started the first game at right guard before starting the next 51 games of his career at center. He was voted as a captain for the last three years of his college career.
Finney was an All-Big 12 honorable mention during his freshman and sophomore years, and a first team All-Big 12 for his junior and senior seasons. He was also named the Big 12 Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2014.
Drafting a natural center may not be a massive need for Kansas City, but Finney is NFL ready with good physical tools, and great character and leadership abilities. He could likely be had in the fourth or fifth round, and would be a possible starting center from the beginning.
Next: A Traditional and Powerful Inside Linebacker