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The Kansas City Chiefs added six draft picks in the 2019 NFL Draft and each of those rookies made contributions during the season and postseason. This draft had a mix of offensive and defensive players compared to the 2018 NFL Draft, which was primarily defensive players for the Chiefs. Let’s take a look at Khalen Saunders’ 2019 season and see what we can project for the future.
Western Illinois DT Khalen Saunders – 84 overall
Stat |
2019 totals |
| Games played | 12 |
| Games started | 4 |
| Defensive Snaps | 165 |
| Special Teams Snaps | 130 |
| Total Tackles | 22 |
| Solo Tackles | 13 |
| Sack | 1 |
| Pass deflection | 1 |
| QB hit | 2 |
2019 season review:
There were plenty of standouts from the 2019 draft class ahead of the start of the season. Juan Thornhill lit up training camp. Mecole Hardman and Darwin Thompson lit up the preseason. Saunders had a more difficult adjustment to the NFL early on.
“Yeah, there was a point there where [Saunders] plateaued a little bit,” Steve Spagnuolo said in August. “Brendan (Daly) and I talked about it, but I think he’s worked him a way to making some gains. It’s a little up and down, 50/50 right now, he has to find some consistency, but we like where he’s at right now.”
Luckily for Saunders, the Chiefs didn’t need him early on during the 2019 season. Saunders was made inactive through the first quarter of the season, effectively becoming a healthy scratch. It wasn’t until Week 5 that he was first active and played his first NFL defensive snaps.
Saunders started the four games in place of Chris Jones who was injured. During that time, he proved to be a solid component of the defensive line rotation. He had a great hustle play for his first NFL sack, which came against Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. From Week 10 onwards, after Jones’ return, Saunders snap counts dipped significantly.
2020 season outlook:
The Kansas City Chiefs have three defensive tackles scheduled to become free agents in 2020 in Jones, Mike Pennel and Xavier Williams. It’s unlikely that all three players hit free agency because that’d leave the team dangerously thin at the position. There should, at the very least, be more snaps available for Saunders during the 2020 NFL season. I don’t expect to see him as a healthy scratch again.
What the Chiefs need to see from Saunders in 2020 are some improvements. He’s already improved as a run defender throughout the 2019 season. What I am looking for is continued development as a pass rusher, especially if Kansas City is forced to move on from Chris Jones. Too many players hit the sophomore slump in the NFL. I fear some players for the Chiefs will be at further risk of that because of the success they saw in 2019. I’m hoping that Saunders won’t be one of those players.
Chiefs 2019 rookie season reviews:
WR Mecole Hardman (Coming soon)
DB Juan Thornhill (Coming soon)
DT Khalen Saunders (You’re here!)
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