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Kansas City Chiefs Draft Thoughts and Final Predictions

By Lyle Graversen

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the stage and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the stage and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 28, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Kenny Clark participates in workout drills during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Kenny Clark participates in workout drills during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 1 – Pick 28

My Pick: Kenny Clark – DT – UCLA
6-foot-3 – 314 pounds

I know this pick won’t make everyone happy. I would love to mock a cornerback to KC here, but the only two that I think the Chiefs would take here are William Jackson and Eli Apple and I just don’t think they are going to make it to KC with all the teams that are on the market for cornerback help. So if we’re going with the best player available at a position of some need that could point to a defensive lineman. Also, the biggest potential free agent KC has next season is Dontari Poe. As I already pointed out, Dorsey likes to draft replacements for free agents to come. Poe is going to command huge money and has a history of back problems. Plus KC has already paid Allen Bailey and Jaye Howard so drafting a possible replacement could definitely be a possibility.

So of all the defensive lineman available, why Clark? Well, I was actually late to the party on Kenny Clark. I was planning on mocking Vernon Butler here (I still think that could happen) but I just really like Clark’s tape better. Clark is a physical force on the interior who stops the run well and consumes blockers. I really like how he keeps his head up and watches for ball carriers while engaged with offensive linemen. He would immediately step into the run stopping hole in the rotation made my the loss of Mike DeVito to retirement and would give the Chiefs some insurance in case Poe won’t agree to a deal that the Chiefs feel comfortable with. He’s not a pass rush specialist but he does have the power to collapse the pocket on passing plays and that’s really what you’re looking for when you have great edge rushers on your team. Plus, Clark is only 20 years old so he has to potential to continue to develop even more despite his already impressive physical build.

Picks I would love to see happen:

William Jackson III – CB – Houston
Eli Apple – CB – Ohio State

As I stated above, these are the two first round corners I think fit KC and would likely be near or at the top of their draft board at the back end of the end of the first round. Unfortunately, I just don’t think it’s likely they fall to KC. I’m not sold on Mackenzie Alexander from Clemson as a fit for the Chiefs and I don’t think any other corners available will be worth passing on the defensive line talent for.

Other players I like that I think could be in consideration:

Vernon Butler – DT – Louisiana Tech
Andrew Billings – DT – Baylor
Jarran Reed – DT – Alabama
Jonathan Bullard – DL – Florida

I think these four are options for many of the same reasons I listed for Kenny Clark but all four have different strengths/weaknesses. Butler is a raw prospect with the physical tools to be a great 3-4 defensive end. He’s more of a penetrating player than a block eater so I’m not sure he would work as a Poe replacement but he has huge upside if the Chiefs think their coaches can unlock it. Billings would be an ideal Poe replacement. He’s built like a tank and is a perfect fit for playing nose tackle. He’s not as versatile as the other prospects but he could still fill DeVito’s run stopping spot in the rotation next to Poe this season. Jarran Reed is a highly touted player and I was impressed with his speed getting off the line, but I’m just not sure I see the physical upside to potentially dominate in the NFL like I do with Butler and Billings. Bullard is the smallest of the four but is easily the most athletic. He’d make a great pass rushing defensive tackle in the sub package and could develop into a 3-4 defensive end, but again, he’s not a Poe replacement.

Wildcards:

Paxton Lynch – QB – Memphis
Karl Joseph – S – West Virginia

There’s been some whispers that Andy Reid likes Paxton Lynch and if that’s the case and he’s available I’m 100% behind drafting him. You don’t get a chance to draft talented quarterbacks very often and while I have some questions about his game I trust Reid on the subject. However, I’m guessing Lynch will be long gone by the time KC picks. While many may argue that safety isn’t a big need I think people need to realize how the role of safeties is evolving in today’s NFL. With all the emphasis on the passing game teams need players like Karl Joseph. He can handle man coverage, he can drop back as a “center field” safety, or he can lay running backs out in run support. Joseph isn’t just a safety, he’s a multifaceted defensive back that Chiefs fans would fall in love with as soon as he hit the field.

Next: Predicting the Chiefs second round pick

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