For today's article, I wanted to shed light on the NFL Draft and the Chiefs' possibilities this year. With the draft being one month away, and the Chiefs having 12 picks (The most they've ever had) this will be a difficult draft for the Chiefs, but in a good way. Do they trade? Do they use early picks on receivers, edge rushers, defensive backs? Where does the team see itself in 5 years with said picks? The possibilities are fruitful, which makes the decision making all the more complicated. Below I've organized my own personal mock draft. Bear with me, as this is a first draft (HA get it?) and I am not Mel Kiper or Brett Veach, so prepare for potential (and completely unintentional...mostly) hot takes.
Rd 1, Pick 29: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
Kansas City needs an edge presence perhaps the most out of any position, and there is no shortage of talent in this year's draft. Ojabo is one of the best in the draft and would be a great fit opposite Frank Clark.
Rd 1, Pick 30: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
Pickens is a safety pick just in case Jameson Williams does not fall this far. If Williams falls this far, I have him at 29 and Ojabo at 30, however given the videos Williams is putting out I think he will go higher. Pickens is a safe and reliable 2nd option.
Potentially also see a trade up in this first round to pick up Williams or even a better EDGE like Travon Walker or Jermaine Johnson III, perhaps even trade for Josh Allen (No not that one, we already have a QB) from Jacksonville. However, I believe above is the most realistic first round for the Chiefs.
Rd 2, Pick 50: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
I think the Chiefs improve their secondary with these early mid round picks, and I think Elam (If not already taken) will fit in nicely to replace the hole Charvarius Ward left. If already taken, expect Tariq Woolen of UTSA.
Rd 2, Pick 62: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn St.
Another secondary pick, Brisker will fill the Tyrann Mathieu (Yes he's leaving) hole and will compliment new safety Justin Reid in a pass defense that needs athletic talent.
Rd 3, Pick 94: Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA
So I know I just said early to mid round picks on secondary, but eventually we are going to need to figure out the Travis Kelce replacement. Dulcich is long, athletic, and can make plays very similar to Kelce. Expect a TE to be taken somewhere in the Chiefs' draft.
Rd 3, Pick 103: Jojo Domann, LB, Nebraska
This will be the Anthony Hitchens replacement. Domann has lots of speed and knowledge for the game that could prove useful, as well as the pick allowing Nick Bolton to play his more natural position at the MIKE.
If we're going to see a trade in this draft, expect it to come in the 3rd round. Josh Allen or Laviska Shenault from Jacksonville are my two favorites here, or perhaps even Adam Thielen from Minnesota. Do not expect the Chiefs to use all 12 picks... however I will put together a mock draft for all 12.
Rd. 4, Pick 121: Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
The compliment to early 1st round shoe in Sauce Gardner, Coby Bryant could bring great athleticism to the depleted Chiefs secondary, as well as play off a ball hawk corner like L'Jarius Sneed as he did with Gardner.
Rd. 4, Pick 135: Dontario Drummond, WR, Ole Miss
Drummond is an SEC product that produced well in his years at Ole Miss being thrown to by top talent Matt Corral. He can fit nicely in with Mahomes and Co. by being a good third or fourth option with potential to rise in rank.
Rd. 7, Pick 233: Kyron Johnson, LB, Kansas
A KANSAS player being picked in the draft??? Egad Burn have you lost your mind??? No, no I have not. As someone who watched Johnson in his days at Kansas and in his Senior Bowl tapes I think he could be a hidden gem for the Chiefs. He's quick, hard hitting, and reads plays exceptionally. A potential steal where the reward far outweighs the risk.
Rd. 7, Pick 243: Kolby Harvell-Peel, S, Oklahoma St.
Deepen that secondary more, please...we need as many bodies as we can get, and Harvell-Peel is not a bad late round option.
Rd 7, Pick 251: Max Borghi, RB, Washington St.
Borghi was a great receiving back at Wazzou, and can easily be a great Darrell Williams replacement if developed correctly. Last year he was utilized more traditionally, however the talent is there as we've seen.
Rd. 7, Pick 259: Cordell Volson, T, North Dakota St.
Cap off the draft with bolstering the offensive line. Volson is a solid late round option, and depth at O-Line is always good, as we've seen *Cough cough* SUPER BOWL 55 *cough*
And there you have it, my longest daily article to date. Again, I am no "draft expert" and for all we know Veach may draft defense only because he trusts the offense just that much. I'm not in that war room, I do not have #VeachBlackMagic. I am very intrigued to see what Veach does with the options that he has, time will only tell what will happen.
Comments