UNC Football: Chazz Surratt projected as first round draft pick to Chiefs

UNC football standout Chazz Surratt is a projected first round draft pick to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic and some scheduling difficulties, the North Carolina Tar Heels have played just one game this season. But that hasn’t stopped UNC senior linebacker Chazz Surratt from being projected as a first round selection of the Kansas City Chiefs in next year’s NFL Draft.

In Surratt’s one outing of the 2020 campaign, he compiled nine tackles — four solo tackles and five for a loss — to go along with two sacks, a hit and a hurry. He appears to be picking up right where he left off last season, or maybe even a tinge better. NFL scouts and general managers are apparently noticing, too, as his draft stock continues to rise despite his lack of time on the field so far this season.

"“It’s only been one week, but Surratt already looked far more comfortable against Syracuse than what we saw last year,” PFF’s Michael Renner writes. “He is a weapon as a blitzer and got home for two sacks, a hit and a hurry in his lone game this season after collecting 30 pressures in his first year at linebacker in 2019.”"

Despite the fact that Surratt is still relatively new to the linebacker position, the Chiefs could use a player of his size and skill, particularly since they’re already fairly well set at every position. Even if Surratt didn’t come in and perform as a standout from day one, he’d add depth to the team’s linebacker corps. He’s got the athletic ability and speed to put pressure on the quarterback, and can also drop back in coverage.

Surratt finished the 2019 season with 115 total tackles, including 66 solo tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He was the unquestioned leader of a UNC defense that improved substantially from the prior season under former head coach Larry Fedora, and looks to be even better this season in head coach Mack Brown’s second year back in Chapel Hill.

Surratt’s list of preseason honors this year include a nod for first team All-America by The Sporting News and Street & Smith’s, as well as bids for first team All-ACC from a number of publications.

Stick With Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Chazz Surratt, and the UNC football program.