Well it is December, so time to go ahead and get a Mock Draft out for the Chiefs!
I think I am going to change my mind multiple times (always do), but unlike the last few years there isn't a guy yet that I "really want" the Chiefs to draft. Well, let me take that back, there is and his name is Jared Goff, but unless we trade up for him (and I wouldn't be against a first this year, first next year, and third this year to do that), I don't think we are going to get him. The past years I saw OBJ3 early on and knew that was the guy I wanted the Chiefs to draft. Other times it wasn't until after bowl games until I saw a guy I wanted them to draft (like when I wanted them to draft Travis Kelce). But as of right now there isn't a guy I feel they must draft. Now there are two guys I think would be great fits for KC:
Kenneth Dixon - RB out of LaTech that can catch out of the backfield, perfect fit for KC, 3rd round draft grade right now
Jaydon Mickens - WR out of Washington that is in the mold of an Albert Wilson, 7th round draft grade right now
But I am not including either for the time...I see some areas I would address before each spot above. The big one will be QB. Right now, I think they have to draft a QB with their first or second round draft pick. Experts are wanting to call it a weak QB draft, but I disagree with them. There are quite a few guys I like. In order: Jared Goff, Connor Cook, Paxton Lynch, Kevin Hogan, Carson Wentz, Brandon Allen, and Vernon Adams. I think Goff, Cook, and Lynch are all first rounders (Goff and Lynch likely well before we pick...even though I like Cook better than Lynch). I think Hogan and Wentz will be second rounders (although right now I see Hogan listed as a 5th round grade - I think that is off). Then Allen and Adams as late round guys. Jacoby Brissett could be an interested mid-round option, but the times I have seen him play he reminds me of Alex Smith...so I am not too sold on him.
All that being said, here is what I am thinking as of right now. Note we have two fifth rounders because of trading Kelsie McCray but no sixth rounder since we traded for Ben Grubbs. I am loosely basing this off of CBS Sports NFL Draft rankings...
Round 1: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
So there are questions here that many are going to ask about Cook. Will he be around when the Chiefs pick? Is he accurate enough to be successful in the NFL? Why wasn't he named team captain? My somewhat short answers here are he may not be around when Chiefs pick, yes I think he is accurate enough (explain more in a second), and I think the whole team captain deal is blown out of proportion because of the veteran group at Michigan State. Watched some game clips of Cook against Western Michigan, where he didn't have a stellar completion percentage, and noticed some of his passes were behind his receivers but they almost always hit the receivers in the hands - could be better, but not as bad as some make it out to be. When I see Cook, I see a guy that is built well, a strong enough arm, and a guy that has led Michigan State to a lot of success the past few years...intangibles play a big part here. I would be excited to get a guy like him to be our QBOTF...
Round 2: Denver Kirkland, OT, Arkansas
I will go ahead and say right away there is a bias here - he is a somewhat shorter than a typical OT, a little heavier than a typical OT, plays at Arkansas...yep, he reminds me of former Eagles OT that Reid drafted Jason Peters. I would be cool with a Jason Peters on the OL! Now some sites have him listed as a guard, of which doesn't bother me much - we need help there as well. He will be a solid OL wherever he ends up playing on the OL
Round 3: Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi St
This might be the closest right now to a guy I really want the Chiefs to draft. Listed as a 4th round grade, but I think he goes much higher. I could even see him in the second round and would consider drafting him in the second round over Kirkland. At 6' 5" 310 lbs, he could be a great DT/DE in the defense and he has pass rush ability at his size. I think this guy is going to develop into a big time player down the road
Round 4: La'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech
Things could change, but early on I think he is the most under-appreciated OL prospect by draft people so far. We saw first hand how much tech's OL struggled without him. I am not sure he is an all-pro type, but I think he is a guy that is going to play in the league a long time
Round 5a: Blake Martinez, LB, Stanford
Tackling machine out of Stanford, a little surprised he is this low on some draft sites. Guessing his athleticism isn't stellar, but the kid plays with heart and makes a lot of tackles. With the way DJ is playing, we don't need another awesome LB for another year or two, but think he could surprise some people at the next level. Could make a solid young trio with Wilson, March (when he gets off IR), and him.
Round 5b: Kenneth Crawley, CB, Colorado
Still a little sour that KU didn't land this kid, but if we lose Sean Smith we are probably going to have to draft a guy. I think Crawley has a good combination of size and speed and could potentially develop into a solid backup down the road
Round 7: Elijhaa Penny, RB, Idaho
My sleeper of sorts, Penny is a near 250 lbs RB that has rushed for over 1,000 yards this season at Idaho. He is surprisingly nimble for his size. Seeing the success Ware had last week, I can see some value in a big guy that can move around playing RB in this offense. I think Penny has the ability to surprise people and make it in this league
Going to try and wait until bowl season is over with until the next mock, but we will see if that happens...
I think I am going to change my mind multiple times (always do), but unlike the last few years there isn't a guy yet that I "really want" the Chiefs to draft. Well, let me take that back, there is and his name is Jared Goff, but unless we trade up for him (and I wouldn't be against a first this year, first next year, and third this year to do that), I don't think we are going to get him. The past years I saw OBJ3 early on and knew that was the guy I wanted the Chiefs to draft. Other times it wasn't until after bowl games until I saw a guy I wanted them to draft (like when I wanted them to draft Travis Kelce). But as of right now there isn't a guy I feel they must draft. Now there are two guys I think would be great fits for KC:
Kenneth Dixon - RB out of LaTech that can catch out of the backfield, perfect fit for KC, 3rd round draft grade right now
Jaydon Mickens - WR out of Washington that is in the mold of an Albert Wilson, 7th round draft grade right now
But I am not including either for the time...I see some areas I would address before each spot above. The big one will be QB. Right now, I think they have to draft a QB with their first or second round draft pick. Experts are wanting to call it a weak QB draft, but I disagree with them. There are quite a few guys I like. In order: Jared Goff, Connor Cook, Paxton Lynch, Kevin Hogan, Carson Wentz, Brandon Allen, and Vernon Adams. I think Goff, Cook, and Lynch are all first rounders (Goff and Lynch likely well before we pick...even though I like Cook better than Lynch). I think Hogan and Wentz will be second rounders (although right now I see Hogan listed as a 5th round grade - I think that is off). Then Allen and Adams as late round guys. Jacoby Brissett could be an interested mid-round option, but the times I have seen him play he reminds me of Alex Smith...so I am not too sold on him.
All that being said, here is what I am thinking as of right now. Note we have two fifth rounders because of trading Kelsie McCray but no sixth rounder since we traded for Ben Grubbs. I am loosely basing this off of CBS Sports NFL Draft rankings...
Round 1: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
So there are questions here that many are going to ask about Cook. Will he be around when the Chiefs pick? Is he accurate enough to be successful in the NFL? Why wasn't he named team captain? My somewhat short answers here are he may not be around when Chiefs pick, yes I think he is accurate enough (explain more in a second), and I think the whole team captain deal is blown out of proportion because of the veteran group at Michigan State. Watched some game clips of Cook against Western Michigan, where he didn't have a stellar completion percentage, and noticed some of his passes were behind his receivers but they almost always hit the receivers in the hands - could be better, but not as bad as some make it out to be. When I see Cook, I see a guy that is built well, a strong enough arm, and a guy that has led Michigan State to a lot of success the past few years...intangibles play a big part here. I would be excited to get a guy like him to be our QBOTF...
Round 2: Denver Kirkland, OT, Arkansas
I will go ahead and say right away there is a bias here - he is a somewhat shorter than a typical OT, a little heavier than a typical OT, plays at Arkansas...yep, he reminds me of former Eagles OT that Reid drafted Jason Peters. I would be cool with a Jason Peters on the OL! Now some sites have him listed as a guard, of which doesn't bother me much - we need help there as well. He will be a solid OL wherever he ends up playing on the OL
Round 3: Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi St
This might be the closest right now to a guy I really want the Chiefs to draft. Listed as a 4th round grade, but I think he goes much higher. I could even see him in the second round and would consider drafting him in the second round over Kirkland. At 6' 5" 310 lbs, he could be a great DT/DE in the defense and he has pass rush ability at his size. I think this guy is going to develop into a big time player down the road
Round 4: La'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech
Things could change, but early on I think he is the most under-appreciated OL prospect by draft people so far. We saw first hand how much tech's OL struggled without him. I am not sure he is an all-pro type, but I think he is a guy that is going to play in the league a long time
Round 5a: Blake Martinez, LB, Stanford
Tackling machine out of Stanford, a little surprised he is this low on some draft sites. Guessing his athleticism isn't stellar, but the kid plays with heart and makes a lot of tackles. With the way DJ is playing, we don't need another awesome LB for another year or two, but think he could surprise some people at the next level. Could make a solid young trio with Wilson, March (when he gets off IR), and him.
Round 5b: Kenneth Crawley, CB, Colorado
Still a little sour that KU didn't land this kid, but if we lose Sean Smith we are probably going to have to draft a guy. I think Crawley has a good combination of size and speed and could potentially develop into a solid backup down the road
Round 7: Elijhaa Penny, RB, Idaho
My sleeper of sorts, Penny is a near 250 lbs RB that has rushed for over 1,000 yards this season at Idaho. He is surprisingly nimble for his size. Seeing the success Ware had last week, I can see some value in a big guy that can move around playing RB in this offense. I think Penny has the ability to surprise people and make it in this league
Going to try and wait until bowl season is over with until the next mock, but we will see if that happens...
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