Drue

Tranquill

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the deal includes $13 million guaranteed. Lured away from the Chargers with a one-year deal last spring, Tranquill notched 4.5 sacks as a situational pass rusher. He was extremely efficient on a per-snap basis. Headed into his age-29 campaign, this is about as good of a contract as Tranquill could have hoped for.

Smith is one of four Chiefs players ruled out for Week 14, as Isiah Pacheco (shoulder), LB Drue Tranquill (concussion), and S Bryan Cook (ankle) have also been ruled out for the contest. This will be Smith’s first missed game of the season, as the veteran has sported a mostly clean bill of health in his first season with the team. Wanya Morris is listed behind Smith on the depth chart and will presumably draw the start in Smith’s absence.

Tranquill was a part-time player for the Chargers for three years but stepped into a larger role for the 2022 season. He started all but one game for LA last year and his numbers exploded. He led the Chargers in tackles while totaling five sacks plus 10 TFLs. He also forced a fumble and picked off one pass. Pro Football Focus graded Tranquill as one of the league’s best inside linebackers in pass-rush and coverage situations. He should slot into a starting role for Kansas City in 2023.

Whereas many 2020 I.R. placements will last for only three weeks, Tranquill’s appears to be more traditional. He is in danger of missing the rest of the season after being carted in an ugly display Sunday against the Bengals. The No. 130 overall pick of last year’s draft has a history of knee issues. He played five snaps before going down in Cincinnati.

Based on the replay, we can safely assume this injury will land Tranquill on injured reserve. His leg was caught awkwardly, and he was immediately put in an air cast. The 130th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Tranquill was expected to handle most snaps at linebacker for the always-injured Chargers.

Tranquill (6’2/234) converted from safety to linebacker for his final two seasons in South Bend and piled up 19.5 TFLs, five sacks, and an interception as a junior and senior. Long on leadership and character, Tranquill earned the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy as the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. Tranquill crushed the Combine for 88th-percentile SPARQ results, running 4.57 with an impressive 6.94 three-cone time and 37 ½-inch vertical. Tranquill projects as immediate special teams help with a shot to become a starting off-ball linebacker and joins a team that has dealt with a number of linebacker injuries over the years.

Tranquill (6’2/234) converted from safety to linebacker for his final two seasons in South Bend and piled up 19.5 TFLs, five sacks, and an interception as a junior and senior. Long on leadership and character, Tranquill earned the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy as the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. Tranquill crushed the Combine for 88th-percentile SPARQ results, running 4.57 with an impressive 6.94 three-cone time and 37 ½-inch vertical. Tranquill projects as immediate special teams help with a shot to become a starting off-ball linebacker and joins a team that has dealt with a number of linebacker injuries over the years.

Hull is a quality special teams player for the Dolphins who can backup at all three positions. That’s also true for Tranquill, potentially, and keep in mind that the 6-foot-2, 234-pound linebacker is a converted safety. Zierlein notes his “aggressive, physical mindset made transition from safety to linebacker much easier,” and that he “plays assignment-based football and is effective doing dirty work as run blitzer.” Tackling has been an issue for Tranquill, however, and that his coverage skills are more inconsistent than you’d expect from a former defensive back. Special teams ability is going to be huge for Tranquill, and if teams believe he can get downfield and make plays, he has a shot at being a late Day 3 selection.

Tranquil (6'2/234) showed average straight-line speed, but he is quite explosive. The linebacker cleared 122 inches in the broad jump and leaped 37.5 inches in the vertical jump. Both of those scores solidify his overall draft profile, one that currently has him considered as a Day 2 selection. Perhaps his biggest concern is his injury history that includes two torn ACLs. As long as doctors give NFL GMs a thumbs up, Tranquil will be battling for a starting linebacker job in Year 1.

Tranquill has been among the most productive linebackers in college football in his time with the Fighting Irish when he’s on the field. Unfortunately, he’s been limited throughout his career with various injuries, including two ACL tears. He made the move from safety to linebacker, so he’s able to help in coverage, and the 6-foot-2, 235-pound defender is also stout in the run game. He’ll have to test well and show he’s healthy, but if he can, he’ll be one of the first senior linebackers selected in 2019.