Rutgers defensive tackle Kyonte Hamilton could provide late-round value

This defensive tackle could provide value as a late-round selection.

With the NFL Draft less than a month away, the Kansas City Chiefs will be looking to add as much talent to their roster as possible. If they want to add talent to their defensive line, Rutgers prospect Kyonte Hamilton could be on their radar.

A former collegiate wrestler, Hamilton brings a good combination of strength and athletic ability to the position. He may not have the makings of a star, but his tape shows a player more than capable of making it in the NFL.

Player profile

Despite being slightly undersized for the position, Hamilton is a good athlete and has the explosive traits needed to play defensive tackle in the NFL.

At 6’3” and 303 lbs., he is on the smaller side for an interior defender, but his short-area quickness and explosion from a prone position were impressive at his pro day.

A 9’02” broad jump and a 10-yard split of 1.70 on the 40-yard dash showcase his ability to create power out of an athletic position and help paint a picture of his play style in the NFL.

Hamilton’s good testing numbers will draw attention from scouts and coaches, and his film shows a stout, powerful player.

Run defense

After a look at Hamilton’s film, his wrestling background pops out, which is apparent when looking at his run-stuffing capabilities. Playing with superior leverage and a strong base, Hamilton was able not only to take on double teams but also to play two gaps along the defensive line.

Hamilton played all over the line at Rutgers, and on run downs, they occasionally aligned him as the defensive end to give them an edge in holding the line of scrimmage.

On the snap, Hamilton fires into the right tackle — and with superior leverage, he doesn’t give up any ground and holds him at the line of scrimmage. The running back is left looking for a hole, but with Hamilton holding his ground, the rest of the defense is able to swarm the ballcarrier. Hamilton gets in on the tackle at the end of the play, and his effort to play stout on the line of scrimmage created the play.

The combination of strength, leverage and short-area movement skills made Hamilton a good two-gap defender. Aligned as the 3-technique, Hamilton is one-on-one against the right guard. The guard attempts to reach him to start the play, but Hamilton does a good job of splitting him to play both gaps while not giving up any ground. With low pad level, Hamilton reads which way the running back is looking — and as the back starts to make his cut, Hamilton gets off the block and makes the stop.

The impressive point of attack strength and leverage allow him not to give up any ground against the guard, and his quickness helps him to disengage from the block and make the play.

Pass rush

Hamilton had only five career sacks at Rutgers, and it is not likely to be in the cards for him to be an elite pass rusher, but with his leverage and power, he does have the tools to collapse pockets at the pro level.

Hamilton utilizes his short-area quickness as a pass rusher to get into the backfield and disrupt quarterbacks.

On the designed rollout look, he does a good job of “backdoor” the pass protection by starting to flow with the offensive line, then quickly going through the backside A-gap to penetrate the pocket and sack the quarterback.

Hamilton was also able to use his leverage advantage when it came to bull rushes.

Starting the play as a defensive end, Hamilton returns inside on the snap and goes for the right guard. With a good jolt of power, Hamilton knocks the guard into the backfield and walks him back several steps. Just as the quarterback is about to release the ball, he gets off the block and bats the pass down, ending the play.

The bottom line

The Chiefs have shown interest in Hamilton, and a meeting at the Hula Bowl showed that he could be on the team’s radar on day three, and even into the period when teams look to sign undrafted free agents.

With athletic upside, positional versatility, and a good ability to stop the run, it is easy to see why the Chiefs would be interested in a flyer on a player like Hamilton.

The Chiefs are going to need to continue to build the depth of their defensive line and also work to develop players who will have a chance to be contributors in the future. Not every player is destined to be a star in the NFL, but for a player like Hamilton, providing quality depth and being a quality role player is certainly attainable.