Well it's December 1st, time to get this rolling again! Feel free to drop in with your thoughts on who you want the Chiefs to draft...as per usual I am sure I will update this way too many times.
I am going to assume the Chiefs end up with 3 compensatory draft picks with the free agency loses of Branden Albert, Dexter McCluster, Jon Asamoah, and Geoff Schwartz. I have no idea how these will play out because of things like Albert's injury and the performance of the other guys, but until these compensatory picks are announced I am going to assume the Chiefs end up with an extra 4th, 5th, and 7th round pick (if Albert didn't get injured, I think that would have been a third rounder).
I am also going to base this off of Scouts, Inc rankings instead of CBS Sports rankings because I think Scouts Inc's rankings look more realistic right now than CBS Sports, although they are on ESPN Insider so I won't link since that is a paysite...but feel free to google either. I am also going to assume KC picks around the low 20s, but could see it being lower.
Some general thoughts before guessing on guys, there is a lot of versatility with this first pick for the Chiefs. I think this should go towards the best available talent regardless of position. There are some holes with the roster, but don't see the first round pick having to be a certain guy. I could see them targetting several different guys with the first rounder, guys like Eddie Goldman of FSU, La'El Collins of LSU, Trae Waynes of Michigan State, gambling on Marcus Peters of Washington, Mario Edwards Jr of FSU, and several more (including the guy I am guessing they should go with for right now). I also think keeping an eye on injuries will impact things too - will Jeff Allen, Derrick Johnson, and/or Eric Berry be healthy enough to play next year? Particularly on Eric Berry and Derrick Johnson, this is a pretty weak draft for LBs and Safeties, so that impacts things greatly...
Right now, I am going with no OL, which could definitely change. I am going to assume Jeff Allen fully recovers from his injury, giving you a top 8 OL of Fisher, Harris, Stephenson, Allen, Hudson, Kush, Fulton, and LDT which is a pretty solid young core. I feel that drafting any other OL early on would be a waste unless they are an instant impact guy given the youth, unless we lose some guys. Also thinking right now of not drafting any safeties, but drafting two corners that could possibly slide over and play safety....
Round 1: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
I think if a guy like Hundley is available, draft him now and groom him to be the starter in two to three years (when Alex Smith's contract is team friendly for cutting purposes). He has some similarities to Alex Smith in that he is mobile and accurate (some scouts claim they think his accuracy is bad but he is completing over 70% of his passes), but I would argue he is bigger (230 lbs) and has a better deep ball than Smith. I think Hundley would be great in Reid's system.
Round 2: Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland
Some health concerns with him right now as he recently suffered a lacerated kidney causing him to mist the rest of the season, as well as his ypc has dropped some this year, but I think he would be a perfect WR in Reid's offense. Not a lot of WRs in this class have the ability to juke DBs after the catch like Diggs has, of which is needed in Reid's offense.
Round 3: Byron Jones, CB, UCONN
Has the ability to play safety or CB. Has good size and has been a playmaker for UCONN. Considered taking Josh Shaw from USC here as I think he has better size and skill, but his offseason incident has me going with the safer pick for now.
Round 4a: Ray Drew, DE, Georgia
A DE checking in around 280 lbs, think he can bulk up some and be a 3-4 DE in the Chiefs system. Has some pass rush ability, recording 6 sacks last year, but production has dipped some this year. I am curious who his strength is like, as that is very important here, but think he still has some room for development and could be a steal here.
Round 4b: Mario Alford, WR, West Virginia
A little small, but one of the bigger play threats in this WR class in terms of YAC guys. Played RB in JUCO as well, so could be a similar player to De'Anthony Thomas.
Round 5a: Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas
A little bit smaller than most DBs the Chiefs have targetted the past few drafts and in free agency, but he plays bigger than his size. I think he is more of a safety at the next level and could provide immediate quality depth at safety with the chance of being a starter eventually.
Round 5b: Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon State
This is a really deep draft for mid-level talent at the CB spot, so again taking another DB just to get some quality depth back there. Checking in around 5' 11" 200 lbs, he could possibly switch to safety as well. I see him more as the replacement for Chris Owens as NB for right now.
Round 6: Charles Tuaau, DT, Texas A&M-Commerce
If you want to see an interesting roster, check out the roster at Texas A&M-Commerce - a lot of talent for a D2 school. Tuaau had a monster year last year recording over 12 sacks, but his production has dipped some this year. At minimum, would be a solid backup to Dontari Poe, but with his pass rush ability I think he has an outside shot at developing into a 3-4 DE.
Round 7a: Damien Wilson, LB, Minnesota
I am not very high on the depth at the LB spot this year, but do think there is some late round gems at the LB spot. Along with Matt Vigil at Utah State, I think Wilson is one of these gems. He is a tackling maching for Minnesota and one of the few LB prospects to be over 250 lbs.
Round 7b: Jean Sifrin, TE, Massachusetts
Realizing I am going a little heavy here with former KU JUCO recruit prospects, but I am guessing Sifrin will declare and be worth the risk this late in the draft. Put up some solid numbers this past year at UMASS and checking in at 6' 7" 250 lbs with his athleticism could be a steal this late in the draft
I am going to assume the Chiefs end up with 3 compensatory draft picks with the free agency loses of Branden Albert, Dexter McCluster, Jon Asamoah, and Geoff Schwartz. I have no idea how these will play out because of things like Albert's injury and the performance of the other guys, but until these compensatory picks are announced I am going to assume the Chiefs end up with an extra 4th, 5th, and 7th round pick (if Albert didn't get injured, I think that would have been a third rounder).
I am also going to base this off of Scouts, Inc rankings instead of CBS Sports rankings because I think Scouts Inc's rankings look more realistic right now than CBS Sports, although they are on ESPN Insider so I won't link since that is a paysite...but feel free to google either. I am also going to assume KC picks around the low 20s, but could see it being lower.
Some general thoughts before guessing on guys, there is a lot of versatility with this first pick for the Chiefs. I think this should go towards the best available talent regardless of position. There are some holes with the roster, but don't see the first round pick having to be a certain guy. I could see them targetting several different guys with the first rounder, guys like Eddie Goldman of FSU, La'El Collins of LSU, Trae Waynes of Michigan State, gambling on Marcus Peters of Washington, Mario Edwards Jr of FSU, and several more (including the guy I am guessing they should go with for right now). I also think keeping an eye on injuries will impact things too - will Jeff Allen, Derrick Johnson, and/or Eric Berry be healthy enough to play next year? Particularly on Eric Berry and Derrick Johnson, this is a pretty weak draft for LBs and Safeties, so that impacts things greatly...
Right now, I am going with no OL, which could definitely change. I am going to assume Jeff Allen fully recovers from his injury, giving you a top 8 OL of Fisher, Harris, Stephenson, Allen, Hudson, Kush, Fulton, and LDT which is a pretty solid young core. I feel that drafting any other OL early on would be a waste unless they are an instant impact guy given the youth, unless we lose some guys. Also thinking right now of not drafting any safeties, but drafting two corners that could possibly slide over and play safety....
Round 1: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
I think if a guy like Hundley is available, draft him now and groom him to be the starter in two to three years (when Alex Smith's contract is team friendly for cutting purposes). He has some similarities to Alex Smith in that he is mobile and accurate (some scouts claim they think his accuracy is bad but he is completing over 70% of his passes), but I would argue he is bigger (230 lbs) and has a better deep ball than Smith. I think Hundley would be great in Reid's system.
Round 2: Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland
Some health concerns with him right now as he recently suffered a lacerated kidney causing him to mist the rest of the season, as well as his ypc has dropped some this year, but I think he would be a perfect WR in Reid's offense. Not a lot of WRs in this class have the ability to juke DBs after the catch like Diggs has, of which is needed in Reid's offense.
Round 3: Byron Jones, CB, UCONN
Has the ability to play safety or CB. Has good size and has been a playmaker for UCONN. Considered taking Josh Shaw from USC here as I think he has better size and skill, but his offseason incident has me going with the safer pick for now.
Round 4a: Ray Drew, DE, Georgia
A DE checking in around 280 lbs, think he can bulk up some and be a 3-4 DE in the Chiefs system. Has some pass rush ability, recording 6 sacks last year, but production has dipped some this year. I am curious who his strength is like, as that is very important here, but think he still has some room for development and could be a steal here.
Round 4b: Mario Alford, WR, West Virginia
A little small, but one of the bigger play threats in this WR class in terms of YAC guys. Played RB in JUCO as well, so could be a similar player to De'Anthony Thomas.
Round 5a: Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas
A little bit smaller than most DBs the Chiefs have targetted the past few drafts and in free agency, but he plays bigger than his size. I think he is more of a safety at the next level and could provide immediate quality depth at safety with the chance of being a starter eventually.
Round 5b: Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon State
This is a really deep draft for mid-level talent at the CB spot, so again taking another DB just to get some quality depth back there. Checking in around 5' 11" 200 lbs, he could possibly switch to safety as well. I see him more as the replacement for Chris Owens as NB for right now.
Round 6: Charles Tuaau, DT, Texas A&M-Commerce
If you want to see an interesting roster, check out the roster at Texas A&M-Commerce - a lot of talent for a D2 school. Tuaau had a monster year last year recording over 12 sacks, but his production has dipped some this year. At minimum, would be a solid backup to Dontari Poe, but with his pass rush ability I think he has an outside shot at developing into a 3-4 DE.
Round 7a: Damien Wilson, LB, Minnesota
I am not very high on the depth at the LB spot this year, but do think there is some late round gems at the LB spot. Along with Matt Vigil at Utah State, I think Wilson is one of these gems. He is a tackling maching for Minnesota and one of the few LB prospects to be over 250 lbs.
Round 7b: Jean Sifrin, TE, Massachusetts
Realizing I am going a little heavy here with former KU JUCO recruit prospects, but I am guessing Sifrin will declare and be worth the risk this late in the draft. Put up some solid numbers this past year at UMASS and checking in at 6' 7" 250 lbs with his athleticism could be a steal this late in the draft
