AA Mock Draft: Prediction Time

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Can you feel it, Addicts? The excitement and tension in the air? It’s almost tangible right now as the NFL’s “second season” draws to a close. This Thursday we start to close the book on the perennial biggest story of the offseason. This Thursday, we finally get a look at who the 2016 Kansas City Chiefs will be in 2016 (oh, and 31 other teams…I guess).

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So now it’s time to put all the cards on the table. No mock drafts. No more “what ifs”. No more scenarios. It’s time now to come out and make some real predictions on how the 2016 NFL Draft is going to play out for the Chiefs. I told you all last week about my own personal streak. Well…to be honest, I think it’s in serious jeopardy this year. The Chiefs really do have a number of angles to take this year. Forget draft history and tendencies. This draft class is unique. This situation is unique. This year’s Chiefs team and expectations are unique.

The offseason moves we have seen in Kansas City this year indicate a team that knows it is in the mix for the Super Bowl. The past three years have been building to this. Getting back to the playoffs, beating high caliber teams, and finally winning a playoff game…each year has seen one stepping stone after the next. Now it’s time to really start mixing it up with the big boys in the league.

GM John Dorsey finds himself in a new situation for this year’s draft. He’ll have to balance the team’s “win now” look with keeping an eye to the future. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

But at the same time, John Dorsey has to keep his eye to the future. This can’t be a one-shot deal. He can’t go for broke. Dorsey and his staff need to remain focused on building a perennial contender, because the truth is that most teams don’t win the Super Bowl when they sell out on a one year bid (see Andy Reid’s “dream team” in Philly).

I expect this draft to reflect both principles. I think Dorsey will be adding a couple of players who fill immediate roles for this team, but will also add guys who are more projections for the future of the team. He will look to find a finishing touch or two for this year, but also ensure he’s adding building blocks for teams 3 and 4 years down the line.

That’s also what makes this draft very difficult to predict. In past years, as I conducted my research, I was able to narrow the possibilities and cross off potential moves. That really hasn’t been the case this year as I find myself with almost a dozen very plausible scenarios, each of which relies on a number of other factors (not even including the 27 teams picking before the Chiefs). But, nothing ventured, nothing gained…

Next: The Picks

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