With the coronavirus pandemic throwing a wrench into planned top-30 visits the Kansas City Chiefs have had to improvise. The Chiefs and many other teams have turned to video meetings with prospects using FaceTime or other applications at the instruction of the NFL.
Because of the new system in 2020, teams are no longer limited to 30 players. They’re allowed to interact with a prospect by phone or computer, up to three times per week for an hour at a time. While they don’t have limits on the number of prospects they can contact, don’t expect teams to go through and contact every prospect.
Kansas City has been active in this new system, speaking with several players. Justin Melo of Draft Wire reports that recently the Chiefs had FaceTime meetings with LSU guard Damien Lewis and Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
#LSU OG Damien Lewis has held pre-draft FaceTime meetings with the #Colts, #Patriots, #Cardinals, #Bears, #Bills, #Jets, #Buccaneers & #Chiefs
recently. He has one coming up w/ the #Dolphins shortly.— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) March 27, 2020
Lewis is a player that I figure to be a bit of a riser in weak interior offensive line class. He had a really good performance against an impressive crop of talent at the Senior Bowl. He was pancaking guys in pass protection on the regular and bowling players over as a run blocker. For a big man, he can move in space quite well too. Andy Reid would definitely like to feature him as a blocker in the screen game.
Don’t rule out Lewis as a target for the Chiefs in the second or third round.
Minnesota SAF Antoine Winfield Jr.
has held pre-draft meetings over FaceTime with the #Bears, #Falcons, #Titans, #Bengals & #Chiefs recently.— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) March 30, 2020
Winfield Jr. is an interesting player. Obviously, there is a certain pedigree there, as his father played cornerback for the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings. He’s a fit in Kansas City given his incredible versatility, but he only has one season of consistent production. Also, he has some medical history that teams won’t be able to check up on beyond the combine medical checks. That could impact his draft stock, but it’s hard to say for certain.
Many believe that Winfield Jr. could be the first safety selected in the 2020 NFL draft. If the Chiefs want him, it’ll probably have to happen at pick No. 32. I’m not even certain he lasts that long, but you won’t find me complaining about selecting him at that spot if he’s available.