2018 NFL mock draft: Kansas City Chiefs get better defensively
By Matt Conner
4th Round – Kendrick Norton, defensive lineman, Miami
The defensive emphasis and youth movement continues in this draft on Day 3, and most Chiefs fans will likely be just fine with that outcome. The Chiefs face several key decisions along the defensive front, so the addition of Kendrick Norton would definitely help to stave off any bleeding that might result from free agency.
For now the Chiefs could lose Bennie Logan to free agency as well as Jarvis Jenkins. Allen Bailey is also getting very expensive as he enters the last year of his extension. Chris Jones remains a rock in the middle, but the Chiefs were already thin along the defensive front before any potential exits even take place.
Norton’s primary gift to the Chiefs would be his tremendous size, depending on how he officially weighs in at the NFL Combine, but he’s credited at 6’3, 312 lbs. He had 26 total tackles last year for Miami and 2 sacks. He might be able to separate himself from being seen as a mere rotational body at the next level with excellent drills at the Combine and his Pro Day. For now at least he’d give the Chiefs someone to spell Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Jones as they rebuild their line.
6th Round – Siran Neal, cornerback, Jacksonville State
Here in the sixth round, the Chiefs take a flyer on a small-school prospect to help bolster their secondary. It’s important to note that the team faces serious losses in the secondary in terms of depth as Kenneth Acker, Terrance Mitchell and Phillip Gaines are all free agents. Even if you say the Chiefs will miss zero of them, they’re still experienced players who need to be replaced (and if they all leave you might realize the Chiefs will miss them more than expected).
Neal was a first-team All-American in FCS play this year even after making a positional switch from linebacker. He had 33 tackles and 11 passes defended and was invited to the Senior Bowl.