The Chiefs' Future Travis Kelce Replacement Could Be at Oregon
College football is BACK, and so is the hunt for future Chiefs. Price Carter breaks down the 2027 NFL Draft prospects Chiefs fans need to watch in Week 1.
Video Transcript
Welcome to another edition of Primetime Prospects, brought to you by Arrowhead Addict, and we are back.
We've never been more back.
I can taste the light beer and buffalo chicken dip right now as we speak, but college football, it is back.
Not fake week zero college football, real meaningful football.
Last night we got a, a crazy game between UMass and Rutgers, uh, you know, like, that's the thing that's great about college football, you just You never know what game's gonna turn into banger, and we're in week one, and, you know, you get your Mizzou winning by whatever it was, like 54 over uh Arkansas Pine Buff, but we do have some good games on the slate today.
In case you're new to the show here, what we do is we try to highlight some of the best prospects for the The Kansas City Chiefs, and some of the biggest college football games of the week.
Talk about their profile a little bit, why they're a fit for the Chiefs, and try to add the context of, hey, here's guys who are on these top watch list, here's guys that people are talking about.
What do they have to do going forward to try to transform themselves into a name we're talking about in April, because April will come.
And you know, like, uh, two guys you can really use as an example here.
This time last year, Peter Woods was Dane Brigler's #1 overall prospect, and was at most big boards, like at worst a top 10 pick.
Meanwhile, Mansor Delane had just transferred from Virginia Tech, and not a lot of people were talking about Mansor Delaine.
One of them put together an incredible season, became the number 6 overall pick.
And the other was a fringe first rounder, because of how their seasons went.
So adding that context of these guys, it's important.
So, some of these guys might go the Peter Woods path, some of them might go the Manso de lane path, and some of them might be a day 2 or even a day 3 guy.
But I'm telling you, the hype about this draft class is real.
Um, this is probably pretty much anybody that I trust who does this, the group chats and stuff I'm in, has said that this is, you know, as good of a draft as they've evaluated, maybe since 2020.
Um, which was like the Herbert, uh, Ja'Marr Chase, Burrow class.
So I, I really think it's special.
So we're gonna highlight 3 games today, probably the three best games on the schedule.
Um, first game we're going to is Oregon, Boise State.
You know, I, I expect Oregon to roll in this game.
Boise State, you know, they've put up a good fight, you know, they, they snuck into the playoffs a couple of years ago.
Uh, two guys I want to highlight in this game, both have first round potential, and that's tight end Jamari Johnson for Oregon, uh, 6'4, 245 pounds, wears number 9.
He popped watching Kenyon Siddiq, and I know that there were people who are like, wait, number 9 is actually the good tight end on Oregon.
Kenyon Siddiq was a little divisive, because it, it just some of the advanced metrics and stuff didn't really love him, um, wasn't necessarily a great receiving threat, but a super athlete.
Also pretty small at the position, but that's not Jamari Johnson.
Um, he was at Louisville before transferring to Oregon.
He is a converted wide receiver, he didn't start playing tight end until college.
He's not overly explosive.
This isn't, you know, a guy that you're gonna like focus on the yak, but he's a smooth route runner, really great route stems, really understands the position, a natural soft hands catcher.
And the other plus is like, this is a guy that you really can line up and play inline.
Oregon, they like to run the ball, um, he's a wide tight end, they use him as a lead blocker on pole plays.
Um, he, he's a guy who, like, I think this year, him and Tradez Green, who we're not gonna talk about today cause I wanted to highlight another player for, uh, the LSU game, but him and Tradez Green, I think are gonna be kind of battling back and forth for that tied in one position.
Tradez Green is kind of more that Kenyan Siddiq role where it's like dynamic athlete.
Just think about the mismatches, whereas Jamari Johnson's like, you're, you're tight end that could line up and play NFL football today.
And, you know, like I said, like he's just a great receiver of the ball, understands zone coverage really well, only 2 drops last year.
I really like Jamari Johnson.
I think tight end is like low key, probably one of the bigger positions of need for the Chiefs in 2027.
There's a chance that that whole tight end room is wiped clean.
I mean, maybe they keep Brennan Stool.
Noah Gray , I think you want to get off that contract.
We know Kelsey might be in his final year, and Jared Wiley has not shown anything.
So, Jamari Johnson round one, real possibility.
On the other side of the ball for Oregon, a guy that I liked for the Chiefs last year, he ended up staying like several of the Oregon guys did, and it's Matela Mateo Ugelele.
Uh, he's the edge rusher, 6'5, 272 pounds, wears number 10, brother of DJ Uyagle.
Ugulele, sorry, not the easiest name to pronounce there.
10.5 sacks, 13 tackles for a loss in 2025.
Probably Oregon's best pass rusher, maybe not their best player, cause I think the interior offensive lineman or defensive lineman that they have there, whose name is escaping me right now, is really, really good as well too.
Former five star, great size and power.
Um, he's interesting because I think his bull rushes, his bull rush and athleticism is good enough to get him by most of the time.
Doesn't have a huge like pass rush arsenal right now.
Um, not, you know, not a lot of counters, uh, a little stiff in the hips, not gonna, like this isn't our Mason Thomas, right?
Um, but I think that he could be George Cloftus.
I, I think that he's that type of player, um, and I think that's kind of in the realm that he might go, the back end of the first.
There's some really talented edge rushers, uh, Colin Simmons from, uh, Texas, Dylan Stewart, those are kind of be your like top 10, top 12 picks.
Um, but I do think Ugulele could be a guy that goes in the back end of the first, that could just be a really solid, uh, fitter of the run, very good against the run.
He's got that, you know, high pedigree like his brother did as well too as a former five star.
I'm excited to see what he does this year.
I think that he has a role in almost any defense that he's gonna be drafted to.
That game is at 2:30, by the way, Oregon, Boise State, heading on to.
The Tiger Death Valley showdown, depending on who you think has the proper claim to Death Valley and to the Tiger, uh, this one is going to be in Baton Rouge at 6:30, LSU versus Clemson.
Uh, LSU, I'll tell you what, you know, Slight hyperbole here, slight moment.
Everybody hates this, the NFL players going back to college, and I agree , the NCAA college football, it needs some governance, it needs some guidance.
It's the wild west.
There needs to be some infrastructure.
Unfortunately, for some reason , the NCAA can't do that, and it has to be like Congress and stuff, which, you know, certainly this is definitely the biggest thing that our country needs to worry about right now is college football.
Um, but with all that being said, This is, there's a lot of hand wringing over this for something that's only gonna exist for a year.
This 5 for 5 deal that's going on, this won't exist next year.
This is a story, it is a 1 year story, and maybe it's the counterculture me, I kind of love it a little bit, like.
I get it's gross.
I get it, I get it's messy, but like LSU becoming the villain, it's fun.
I like Lane Kiffin becoming the villain here.
I, I don't know.
I, I think it's kind of crappy that like these guys are taking the place of players on the roster, but overall, it doesn't really bother me that much .
At this point with college football, like, I'm a Nebraska fan.
I'm not gonna believe that Anthony Calandria, the quarterback that they brought in from UNLV is gonna start for them until tomorrow when he takes the field, cause like, who freaking knows.
But with all that being said, LSU's, they got some dudes, uh, starting with Jordan Seaton, the offensive tackle, 6'5, 302 pounds, was the crown jewel of Deion Sanders' recruiting class, the top tackle in the 2024 recruiting class.
Great mover for his size.
Um, honestly, shades of Josh Simmons, as far as like the movement skills, the body type.
This is a guy that like , hey, he takes off his shirt, like there's a chance that you could mistake him for a tight end.
I think that he needs to clean up the technique a little bit.
There was some communication errors.
This is a big year for him.
He can easily play himself into the top tackle taken.
Like Goosby and him are a little bit different.
I think Gooseby has a higher floor, Seaton has the higher ceiling.
But you put Jordan Seaton and Josh Simmons on the same offensive line, you are insanely athletic, and I think tackle could be a big need, no matter what your thoughts are on Josh Simmons and whatever is going on with him seemingly all the time.
You need another tackle, whether it's insurance for Simmons or just the right side.
So, Jordan Seaton, really like him.
Uh, like I said, a former five-star, great movement skills, great pass protector, gotta work on cleaning up the technique in the hands.
Uh, he will get a nice test in this game against Will Helt, the edge rusher from Clemson, great size on him, 6'7, 260 pounds, wears number 13.
He was Clemson's best.
Edge rusher last year over TJ Parker, over Peter Woods.
Both guys who were, you know, 1st round or 2nd round talent, uh, 15.5 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks.
Uh, he plays mostly standing up there.
Defensive line is weird.
Like I very quickly realized that looking at Peter Woods, but really nice long frame, solid run defender, surprising first step for a guy of his size.
Um, now, the first step is great, not overly bendy.
I think that's kind of what you expect from a guy of his size, at 6'7.
Um, he's pretty high cut, not overly powerful for a guy of his size.
I think most of it's related to leverage, but I think his ability to win off of speed with that first step, the long, strong hands, he's good in the run defense.
I think if you could maybe refine that pass rush arsenal, you have a like AJ Epanesa type of player.
Um, and , you know, I know that that's not overly sexy.
This isn't Von Miller here, but again, kind of going back to Matteo Ugelele, like, these are guys who are gonna play for you, and the Chiefs could definitely use those guys.
Um, I think obviously Ashton Gillati getting right and coming back could like really kind of refine what the Chiefs need to edge, but you're still losing FAU.
You don't, you know, you got Car Loftus.
Our Mason Thomas and Glati next year at the edge position.
They can certainly continue to upgrade that.
So, look out for Will Helt.
Uh, one more name I wanted to call out is Bryant Westco, the wide receiver from Clemson.
Uh, I watched quite a bit of Clemson offense as well too with Antonio Williams.
Uh, Westco jumped out for me watching him, 6'2, 180 pounds.
Number 12, great speed, son of two track athletes, uh, had, you know, he was really looking like one of the best wide receivers in the 27 class before he injured his back late in the year last year , didn't end up getting a finish and Clemson's season was long gone by them anyway.
Good route runner, explosive.
He's a younger prospect, really good yak.
This is gonna sound a little familiar, needs to add some weight, a little bit thin, inconsistent ball tracking and strength.
The only thing is that 6'2, 180 pounds, like, this isn't a guy who's just like incredibly small, right?
I think that he can get some refinement, maybe put on a little bit of weight, get closer to like 190, clean up that ball tracking.
I think there's a chance that he's a first round pick.
Um, we know that those wide receivers are gonna go and they're gonna go early.
Last game, Ole Miss versus Louisville, for my opinion, the best game on the slate.
6, 630.
We're talking about Clev Lubin, the edge rusher from Louisville, 6'2, 267 pounds.
Honestly, there is a little bit of Ashton Glati to this game, a little bit sawed-off personality, strong, heavy hands.
Uh, growing with pass rush moves, good first step, wins mostly with speed, 13.5 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, does have some hip tightness.
I think he needs to grow with some counters in his pass rush move.
But this is kind of what we said about Gillati coming out.
Like Gelati was a sawed-off guy, um, and honestly was more of a pass rusher, more of a speed rusher at Louisville, and then he comes into the NFL and like he kind of lost that, but was much more productive in the run.
So hopefully Glati's able to add that, but Clev Lubin is the guy that popped for me last year.
I was thinking he might come out returning for another year.
I think he could have a big season.
Um, and then on the other side of the ball, Deuce Alexander, the wide receiver from Ole Miss, another guy, he's 6 ft, 180 pounds, so a little bit smaller than Westco.
Uh, he's a transfer from Wake Forest.
Really good vertical threat.
This is the difference between him and Westco though, he's pretty good at the catch point.
He's got some nice highlight plays, averaging 15.5 yards per reception, also added 122 yards as a rusher, uh, good against press coverage.
Another guy that I do think needs to add some weight, um, he, like, I think it's like 98th percentile outcome, like if you're looking at the best, it's like a CD Lanham type of player .
Lamb's probably 200 pounds now.
He was 190 when he came out.
Um, I would like to see him put on a little bit more weight, but the vertical threat and how he does at the catch point, he's a guy that I think like could be slot best, but right now he's lining up and playing the X for Ole Miss.
Um, by the way, I might, I might take Louisville in this game.
I kind of like them.
I, I kind of think that they might sneak up on Ole Miss here.
I think LSU, despite, like, you know, I think LSU will roll against Clemson and obviously Oregon will roll against Boise State, but we got lots of good games.
We'll try to highlight some of the local games too.
I'm sorry, um, I just couldn't bring myself to talk about the games that our locals are playing.
Next week though, we'll have KUMU.
Um, so we'll be talking about that.
We'll be talking about Caden Green and some of the guys on KU as well too.
So be on the lookout for that.
That's all for me today.
Lock in on these guys, grab you the buffalo chicken dip, grab you a nice cold beverage, and kick back and watch college football, because it's here and we're excited.
So, that's gonna be it for me today on primetime prospects, and as always, go Chiefs.
