2017 NFL mock draft: Cris Collinsworth projects Gareon Conley to Chiefs
By Matt Conner
The first official mock draft from NFL announcer Cris Collinsworth is out at Pro Football Focus, and he has the Chiefs going with a cornerback early.
In his first official mock draft at Pro Football Focus, Cris Collinsworth has the Kansas City Chiefs staying put at No. 27 overall in the first round and bolstering a unit that’s already talented and robust with the selection of Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley. For Collinsworth, he describes it as a move that’s “too good to pass up,” which only serves to bolster the idea that Chiefs general manager John Dorsey will go with the top player on his draft board despite any perceived needs at other positions. Collinsworth writes:
"Gareon Conley, the “other cornerback” from Ohio State, is too good to pass up at No. 27. The Chiefs will also need to look for a replacement for Derrick Johnson at linebacker, but with Marcus Peters on one side, Conley on the other, and safety Eric Berry in middle, this secondary starts to look like it’s on a level with Denver’s unit. Conley isn’t flashy, but does such a great job getting his head around and finding the ball — he may end up with a lot of interceptions. He isn’t quite as quick-twitch as some of the others, but he is a steal here."
Certainly the idea of Conley and Peters on the outside along with Steven Nelson, Terrance Mitchell, Phillip Gaines and D.J. White competing for other spots along with Daniel Sorensen, Ron Parker and Eric Berry at the safety positions make for perhaps the NFL’s best and deepest secondary. That thought has to entice Bob Sutton for sure. That said, the obvious holes in the front seven, especially with serious questions at pass rusher, long-term depth at defensive tackle, and issues at inside linebacker in terms of health, depth and overall talent make this a real stretch.
How much does positional need come into play when John Dorsey picks? Perhaps this is the year we find out more than ever how much Dorsey relies on his overall board. If a cornerback of any kind is the pick, it will not only be surprising but it will also give the Chiefs one of the best secondary units in the NFL.