Chiefs Mock Draft Challenge
By merlin
Welcome to this year’s Chiefs mock draft challenge. I love doing this every year and I invite the readers to post their own Chiefs mock in the comments. To make this a fair exercise, we have to follow some rules.
Here are the rules I have used in the past.
1] The big board on Draft Tek is the official board to make picks from.
2] You can go up five positions from your draft position.
3] You are free to go down as far as you want to select a player.
4] No trades are allowed.
High first-round picks can make it hard to go up five slots to make a pick. Looking at the big board, Justin Blackmon is sitting at #6 and is 99 percent likely to be gone before the Chiefs pick. For basic fairness, I am making an executive decision and ruling Blackmon off limits. For your first round pick, try to select from #7 down. That leaves pretty much the set of viable Chiefs picks.
Now, onto my picks with explanations
Round One: Pick #11 David DeCastro, OG Stanford 6′ 5” 316 lbs
The pick is pretty much a no-brainer pick. DeCastro is the best guard prospect to come out in the last ten years. Usually, guards are not picked this high, but there are always exceptions. DeCastro is the exception. The Chiefs could upgrade Ryan Lilja at guard and DeCastro would be probably end up one of the top handful of guards in the game sooner rather than later. You just don’t pass on players like DeCastro if you have a need at his position. If this pick happens in the real draft, I would be ecstatic.
Round Two: Pick #44 Janoris Jenkins, CB North Alabama 5′ 10” 193 lbs
During the draft, I will be hoping that someone like Dont’a Hightower, Coby Fleener or Brandon Weeden slips to #44. However, for this draft, they are all off limits. I debated between Dwayne Allen or Janoris Jenkins but I ultimately went with Jenkins. With all the passing these days, teams can never have enough good corners. Jenkins has first-round talent, but he has character issues. Will the Chiefs feel that he has grown up enough to produce or will his multiple arrests for marijuana hold him back? This player could not even be on the Chiefs’ draft board. If he is and he is available, he is a prime candidate for selection. Just don’t room him with Justin Houston.
Round Three: Pick #74 Audie Cole, SILB North Carolina State 6′ 4” 242 lbs
Cole is a bit of a reach here. However, the long armed LB prospect is a good fit for the SILB spot. He could play OLB, but SILB may be his best spot. He has a high motor and can be physical with receivers over the middle.
Round Four: Pick #107 Joe Adams, WR Arkansas 5′ 11” 179 lbs
Every draft, I end up eating crow somewhere. The way the board falls, often you have to make selections you never suspected to would make. I really wanted to look at Trumaine Johnson here, but at #94, he is out of reach. I am starting to feel the heat of a NT position yet to be drafted. However, there are a couple of players still on the board I like. The Chiefs could use a speed burner at WR and Adams has speed to burn. He needs to work on getting off of press coverage and sharpen his routes. He is dangerous with the ball in his hands and could contribute as a slot receiver and returner.
Round Five: Pick #146 Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, NT Baylor 6′ 2” 335
OK, Addicts, you can all breath a sigh of relief. Here is your NT, a bit later than expected. The more I think about it, the more I suspect that the Chiefs will not draft a NT. Instead, I think the Chief will sign a veteran NT and see if they can develop Powe. Without really knowing that’s the Chiefs plan, we have to bring in more talent here. NJB is a prototype NT. He has the right size and plays with a low pad level. Pad level is key in evaluating a NT. A NT wants to get low and use leverage to clog the middle and get a push. He needs work on his technique, but in round five is a good prospect to bring in.
Round Six: Pick #182 Aaron Henry, FS Wisconsin 6′ 0” 210 lbs
A converted cornerback, Henry is a project at this point. He has starter potential based on his physical skills. However, he is still learning the position. This is the kind of project you bring in here. He could develop into a good player in two to three years or he disappears. The Chiefs have the coaching staff to bring in a kid like this and work with him.
Round Seven: Pick #218 David Paulson, TE Oregon 6′ 3” 246 lbs
I never suspected going into this that I would wait till round seven to select a TE. Paulson was underutilized at Oregon. He is not a great athlete, but has a knack of making plays. He gives a great effort and is the kind of player you bring in as a third tight end and see if you can develop him.
Round Seven: Pick #238 Cody Johnson, FB Texas 5′ 11” 250 lbs
With Peyton Hillis on a one year ‘prove it’ contract, the Chiefs could draft a big back to develop. Although Johnson is listed as a fullback, he can also carry the ball in short yardage situations. He likes to run over people and teams always need a guy with that attitude.
Impressions:
Every time I do a mock like this, I am surprised. That is the nature of a real draft. You end up making decisions you didn’t think you would make. I didn’t expect to select a WR, nor did I expect to wait till round five to grab a NT. The biggest surprise is the lack of a QB. I never would have called that one.
OK, Addicts, that’s my crack at a Chiefs mock. Pull up the big board at DraftTek.com and post your own mock in the comments!