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The Kansas City Chiefs were busy refining their key positions on an already star-studded roster during the NFL Draft.
On Day 3 of the Draft, the Chiefs selected Hunter Nourzad out of Penn State, read all about his rookie player profile right here.
Position
Brett Veach added more depth at the center position with the selection of Nourzad.
The rookie will serve as a backup to the Chiefs’ 2023 Second-Team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler Creed Humphrey.
However, he has played right tackle and left guard, so he can offer protection across the offensive line if needed.
Draft pick number
The Chiefs waited until Saturday to choose their Penn State rookie and used their 159th pick in the fifth round.
Ultimately, the Chiefs managed to land their second-string ball snapper after executing a trade with the Dallas Cowboys.
Combine results
Unfortunately, the Chiefs’ new rookie did not participate in the NFL Combines pre-draft measurables.
Next Gen Stats provided the center with a projected NFL Combine overall score of 66.
Nourzad was estimated to have impressive athleticism by Next Gen Stats as they gave him a 78.
Comparisons
Per Lance Zierlein’s NFL scouting report, the Chiefs draftee was compared to the Houston Texans Juice Scruggs.
Scruggs missed a large chuck of his rookie season in 2023 after being placed on the injured reserve before the season in August.
He was not activated off IR until November 25th, making it impossible to judge his season.
However, both the offensive linemen are from Penn State so they have shared the field.
In 2022, Scruggs was given the nod at center and Nourzad was forced to play at left guard.
Strengths
When the ball is snapped, the 23-year-old is quick to get his hands into the defender’s chest to keep them at bay and not lose the hand battle from the get-go.
Moreover, he can mirror his defense on the challenging rusher to not be caught off guard by a change in direction or movement.
He has displayed great agility to defend inside and block on the second level which is paramount to the run game.
College record
As mentioned, Nourzad has played in various positions at Cornell and on the Penn State O-Line.
In his first season at Cornell in the Ivy League, he started all 10 games at right tackle.
His 2020 season was disrupted due to COVID-10 concerns, so he has shown great promise to bounce back.
Nourzad earned a First-Team All-Ivy League selection as he once again played 10 games at right tackle.
Next year, he transferred to Penn State and earned an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Conference.
However, he switched to left guard for 8 of eleven games.
He concluded his college career with a Second-Team All-Big Ten Conference but started all the games that season at center.
Prospects/prediction
The Penn State talent will serve as a rotational piece across the offensive line in his first season, as his college career has highlighted his flexibility.
Furthermore, he will be gaining valuable knowledge and mentorship from one of the best coaching teams in the league.
In a few years, Nourzad could find himself as a starter on the Chiefs offensive line, unlikely at center due to the trajectory of Creed Humphrey.