*****The Nick Bolton Thread*****

[Dante84]

More to come!

Bolton played in all 13 games as a true freshman (22 tackles, one sack) after earning Dallas Morning News first-team all-state honors at Lone Star High School (130 tackles, 16 for loss, five interceptions). He went from promising youngster to SEC star in 2019, earning first-team all-conference honors after leading the league with 8.9 tackles per game (107 total, 7.5 for loss), intercepting two passes and breaking up eight others in 12 starts. He was named second-team Associated Press All-American, first-team All-SEC and a Butkus Award finalist in 2020, leading his defense with 95 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss (including two sacks), while breaking up five passes in 10 starts. Bolton's father, Carlos, played football at Louisiana Tech. -- by Chad Reuter

Overview
When you think about strong, forceful inside linebackers, Bolton is the type of player you might be envisioning. He's going to fall below typical NFL starter standards from a size standpoint, but his rugged frame and forceful demeanor help make up for it. Play recognition and pursuit instincts help carry him to the football and he's a message-sending striker when he gets the runner squared up. He has functional short-area burst between the tackles but will struggle to run down the outside run if he's not close enough to the action. He will need to lean heavier on his instincts to help speed him up because of size and speed limitations. Bolton plays with good field recognition when dropping into zone and has a history of making plays on the football in coverage. He's a three-down linebacker who can make an immediate contribution on special teams and has the potential to become a future starter.
Strengths

• Very tough with a physical edge.
• Plays with demeanor teams look for in the middle.
• Field-savvy with instincts to diagnose misdirection.
• Identifies and communicates.
• Heavy hands with good pop to take on blocks.
• Pursues ball-carrier with patience and leverage.
• Fluid alterations to his pursuit angles.
• Excellent feel for attack timing downhill.
• Meets runners with violent collisions in the hole.
• Strikes like he's trying to send a message.
• Great awareness and ballhawking as spot dropper.
• Has enough man-cover talent to play on all three downs.
• Thrived on kick- and punt-cover teams early in his career.

Weaknesses

• Average lateral quickness traps him behind climbing blocks.
• Inconsistent to strike and separate from blockers.
• Needs to improve angles to elude box traffic.
• Might need to take a few more chances as a pro.
• Top-end speed appears below average.
• Loses ground when pursuit flows wide.
• Below-average lateral agility as open-field tackler.
• Will have to play quicker to deal with NFL slashers.

.@_nickbolton2 gets the call from One Arrowhead Drive �� pic.twitter.com/1XgaCeBy8R

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 1, 2021

[smithandrew051]

Gay seemingly always had “something” going on. Either a lingering injury or off the field issue.

I would’ve welcomed him back cheap like he signed for. It sounded like there was speculation at the time that someone might overpay for that pure ability. I wouldn’t want to do that though.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by crispystl

I will never understand why they paid Tranquil and let Gay walk, but obviously they know wtf they're doing. It really makes you wonder is there was some truth to that rumor that claimed we had a trade in place for Gay and we signed Tranquil to take his place.

Pretty simple, Tranquill can call the defense in a pinch if Bolton has to go out. Gay wasn't close to being able to do that.

It stinks that Drue seems a step slower this year. Have to hope he can bounce back from maybe some sort of lingering issue cause there's no good reason for him to be losing steps in his 20s.

[poolboy]

would love to have Willie back at the right price

[TheGuardian]

Go to the 21 or so minute mark. And listen at what Watson says about Spags and Bolton........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwjC...ShermanPodcast

[RunKC]

He was a team captain last night. He’s getting paid.

And quite honestly he’s pretty goddamn valuable considering the teams that we are playing with these running backs.

Big reason why Saquon did nothing last night

[smithandrew051]

Originally Posted by RunKC

He was a team captain last night. He’s getting paid.

And quite honestly he’s pretty goddamn valuable considering the teams that we are playing with these running backs.

Big reason why Saquon did nothing last night

The “pay Bolton or Smith” question seems to have a pretty easy answer right now.

[Gary Cooper]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

The “pay Bolton or Smith” question seems to have a pretty easy answer right now.

It was never an equal choice.

The projected market salary for Smith will be way higher than Bolton's.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

The “pay Bolton or Smith” question seems to have a pretty easy answer right now.

I'm not paying either. I'm paying money for a LT/

[Dunerdr]

I'm still putting a cap on how high I want to pay a non coverage LB though.

[MahomesMagic]

No. We need to spend the resources on fixing the offense.

[Shields68]

Originally Posted by Gary Cooper

It was never an equal choice.

The projected market salary for Smith will be way higher than Bolton's.

And we will need to replace them if they are not signed.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I'm not paying either. I'm paying money for a LT/

This really is a repeat of the 'Get a franchise quarterback' years.

They don't grow on trees, fellas.

The 'pay money for an LT' means throwing a huge deal at Cam Robinson. That's really it -- there just isn't going to be much else on the FA market.

Anybody else will be in that 2nd tier of averageish veteran LTs who aren't going to make enough money to make Bolton cost prohibitive.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I'm not paying either. I'm paying money for a LT/

This is such a simplistic way to look at things.

[Shields68]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

No. We need to spend the resources on fixing the offense.

To me find a LT and a lot of the rest falls into place. Rice comes back. Maybe try and find a 3rd round RB, Travis makes his call and adjust accordingly.

On the other hand the dee did a great job but it really is a lot dependent on Chris being able to blow up the other teams line. Not sure that is going to continue down the road.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

This is such a simplistic way to look at things.

And if we pay $20 million/yr for Cam Robinson (which is what he'll cost) he'll get DESTROYED 'round these parts by about week 4.

If you want a truly great LT, you have to develop him.

If you want a guy whos adequate and overpaid, you sign your FA veteran.

"We just have to fix the LT" is really the same as "We just need a franchise QB" -- it's so much easier said than done.

What people are advocating at the LT position appears to be the Derek Carr approach to fixing the QB position. You go out there and pay way too much for someone you know isn't actually GOOD...but at least he isn't awful. And then you hope that things work out well elsewhere on the roster.

And that's not even an indefensible approach -- but don't act like it's an obviously right one either.