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NFL mock draft: Chiefs land Derrick Johnson’s replacement in 1st round

By Matt Conner

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 05: Linebacker Zach Cunningham of Vanderbilt in action during day five of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 05: Linebacker Zach Cunningham of Vanderbilt in action during day five of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The latest mock draft from The Ringer’s Danny Kelly is out and he has the Chiefs grabbing Zach Cunningham in the first round.

If Danny Kelly is right, there are going to be a lot of surprised Kansas City Chiefs fans on the opening night of the 2017 NFL Draft. In his latest mock draft for The Ringer, Kelly believes the Chiefs could choose to address the heart of the defense with one of the best linebackers in the new draft class in Vanderbilt’s Zach Cunningham.

Cunningham led the SEC in tackles last year and has been projected to the Chiefs before in various mock drafts. The idea here is that the Chiefs have had a perceived need at inside linebacker for the last few years, as Ramik Wilson looks like a league-average player and veteran Josh Mauga has now departed in free agency. Derrick Johnson is the incumbent starter at one inside linebacker spot in the team’s base defense, but even he’s coming off of an Achilles tear and isn’t getting any younger. Kelly writes:

"Coming out of Vanderbilt, the athletic and tenacious linebacker hasn’t gotten as much publicity as some of his draft classmates, but Cunningham is an instinctive playmaker who racked up an SEC-best 125 tackles in 2016. If Derrick Johnson is slow to return from a late-season Achilles tear, Cunningham could line up next to Ramik Wilson in the Chiefs defense and start on Day 1. But even if Johnson returns to form this season, Kansas City needs a long-term replacement for the 34-year-old."

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Many fans would be happy to see the Chiefs finally bring a playmaker into the middle of the defense, but even more would be sad that the Chiefs failed to address the quarterback of the future in a draft where they’ve done all their homework and have no real needs. Is Cunningham a nice pick who could yield immediate dividends? Yes. But is there a first round sized hole behind Alex Smith on the depth chart? Absolutely.

Most fans would love to see the Chiefs address linebacker but only later in the draft—maybe Northwestern’s Anthony Walker or LSU’s Kendall Beckwith. If Cunningham is the choice, it means the Chiefs neglected to grab a quarterback early or even address their pass rush or cornerback needs. Linebacker just doesn’t feel that important.

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