Chiefs take on a big project with selection of Tanoh Kpassagnon

Tanoh Kpassagnon has a chance to be the biggest NFL star out of Villanova since Brian Westbrook. And that’s not just because he’s 6’7 and nearly 300 pounds.

A former three-sport star in high school, the pass-rushing end blossomed from a ball of potential into the Colonial Athletic Association’s defensive player of the year in 2016. Kpassagnon exploded from FCS small standout to pro prospect after notching 21.5 tackles for loss, including 11 sacks, in a brilliant senior season. Now, he’ll play on Sundays with the Kansas City Chiefs after being selected with the 59th pick of the 2017 NFL draft.

Kpassagnon was one of the rare non-FBS prospects to hear his name called before Saturday.

Kpassagnon has a lot working in his favor as he embarks on a career in professional football. His tenure at Villanova started slowly — a redshirt year, inexperience, and injury limited him to just 27 tackles his first three seasons in Philadelphia — but laid the foundation for a breakout 2016. His expanding frame drew scouts’ attention, as did weigh-ins at the Senior Bowl, but it was his performance on the field that elevated him from late-round flier to second-round pickup.

The 6’7 end has the strength to utilize his leverage to the fullest, engaging blockers in with his long arms and tossing them aside when he sees an opening. He’s also fast enough to cut around the corner with a straight-up speed rush, making him a difficult lineman to game plan against. He can get into the pocket and bring down quarterbacks, but his jacked broomstick arms also give him the ability to knock down pass after pass at the line of scrimmage.

Here’s just a pair of examples of how he can ruin a quarterback’s day with his speed around the edge.

It also helps that he’s incredibly smart. Kpassagnon is an accounting/finance double major who has already interned with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Worst-case scenario, he turns that rookie contract into a nice little nest egg for the future.

Kpassagnon wrecked FCS left tackles, but questions remain about how he’ll perform at the next level. He was solid at the Senior Bowl, but his speed rush won’t be nearly as successful against the fleet-footed linemen in the NFL. His pass-rushing moves are still very raw, and while he’s a quick learner, the Chiefs likely understand it may be a couple years before he’s a regular contributor.

He’s also a bit stiff as an athlete, which hinders his ability to change directions or lower his pads to get underneath a blocker’s outstretched arms. So much of his production came from the fact he was much bigger and more athletic than his competition. He won’t have that advantage in 2017.

Plus, with someone so intelligent and with other obvious interests, NFL types tend to wonder how important football is. Kpassagnon says he loves football.