The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to terms with a sizable 17 undrafted free agents after the 2024 NFL Draft. Former Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs was arguably Brett Veach’s most impressive UDFA signing. Jacobs possesses a terrific opportunity to compete for a 53-man roster spot.
Jacobs turned heads with an impressive workout at Penn State’s pro day. The Nittany Lions standout leaped a 10-foot-4 broad jump, with initial whispers indicating he was closer to a 10-foot-9 jump, which would’ve been the best result among all participating linebackers at the NFL Combine. Other elite results for Jacobs included a 4.58 40 with splits of 2.65 and 1.57.
He also had a 35-inch vertical. At 6-foot-1 and 241 pounds, it was a fruitful performance for Jacobs, who surprisingly went undrafted.
Put that down as a 10’9” broad jump for Curtis Jacobs at @PennStateFball pro day. 😤 pic.twitter.com/CDP0HBbQWw
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) March 15, 2024
Jacobs was a four-year standout performer at Penn State. He left the program with 171 total tackles, including three straight seasons with 50-plus takedowns. Jacobs added 24 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions to his defensive totals.
Jacobs first impressed the Chiefs during the pre-draft process at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Unsurprisingly, he was the fastest linebacker in attendance, reaching a top speed of 20.31 mph on the GPS according to Zebra Sports. At the NFL Combine, Jacobs became the only linebacker to run a sub 4.6 at over 240 pounds.
Curtis Jacobs is a three-year starter at one of the best NFL LB development schools in the country and is an elite athlete, yet doesn’t get talked about nearly enough.
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) April 15, 2024
Jacobs has played a variety of positions while at @PennStateFball, from more OLB and even in the slot in 2021… pic.twitter.com/10s3tA7vQO
Jacobs is capable of playing multiple positions for the Chiefs, but he's most productive when utilized as a strongside or weakside defender. Athleticism and range are Jacobs' calling cards, allowing him to defend every blade of grass against today's NFL offenses. Initial burst and twitch allow him to make plays other defenders can't.
Veach entered the offseason searching for better depth at linebacker. Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, and Leo Chenal project as the three starting linebackers in Steve Spagnuolo's base 4-3 defense. Jacobs should manage to capture a rotational role behind them.
Willie Gay Jr. led all Chiefs linebackers in snaps last season, but his production needs to be replaced after signing with the New Orleans Saints in free agency. Veach didn't draft a linebacker, and Jacobs was just one of two undrafted signings at the position, joined by the lesser-known Swayze Bozeman out of Southern Mississippi.
Jacobs could be the Chiefs' fourth linebacker this season, which would make him the first-choice option off the bench. He'll battle for depth chart positioning with the likes of Jack Cochrane and Cam Jones throughout training camp and the preseason. Cochrane is more of a special teamer and Jones is a second-year undrafted free agent who was limited to 81 defensive snaps as a rookie. No proven assets are standing in Jacobs' way.
The Chiefs don't possess much depth at linebacker. Jacobs is a versatile frontline defender who should also contribute on special teams with enough speed to cover on kickoffs. Expect Jacobs to maximize his opportunity in Kansas City by capturing a 53-man roster spot.
Other Chiefs undrafted free agents worth monitoring throughout the summer include running back Carson Steele, defensive lineman Fabien Lovett Sr., and offensive lineman Ethan Driskell.
