The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have a pass rusher with the combination of burst and bend that Northwestern Wildcats defensive end Anto Saka brings to the table.
They tried to add more dynamic athleticism when they drafted Felix Anudike-Uzomah, but that pick hasn’t worked out yet. Saka impacts passing downs more than Anudike-Uzomah, and the Chiefs won’t need to draft him until the third or fourth round at the earliest.
Saka’s elite explosiveness makes him one of the best pass rushers in college football. Northwestern doesn’t give the redshirt sophomore enough snaps for him to earn national recognition, making him one of the best kept secrets at a Power Four program.
Saka’s burst off the line, rapid footwork and impressive bend make it hard for most offensive tackles to keep him from turning the corner. Last year alone, Saka generated sacks against future first-round pick Graham Barton, future third-round pick Caedan Wallace, and priority undrafted free agent Julian Pearl.
Saka plays with a relentless motor. Northwestern hasn’t used him often on run downs this season, but he uses his speed and effort to separate from blocks quickly and chase down running backs.
Saka needs to add more pass rush moves to his arsenal and use more hand counters when his pass rush begins to stall. He lacks ideal arm length, which could make him fall into the draft’s middle rounds.
Northwestern faces a tough challenge against Washington on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m.
