NFL mock draft: Kansas City Chiefs go heavy on defense in Day 2
By Matt Conner
The latest 3-round mock draft from Draft Wire brings serious defensive help to the Kansas City Chiefs with their multiple Day 2 selections.
‘Tis the season of the mock draft, and Luke Easterling has an interesting new three-round effort over at the draft wire that featured several prospects not previously connected to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs don’t have a first round choice after dealing the pick last year for the rights to move up and draft Patrick Mahomes. That means, unless general manager Brett Veach wheels and deals, the Chiefs will be waiting until well into Day 2 to make their first overall selection. If Mahomes works out as expected however, no one will mind in hindsight.
Let’s take a look at the three players that Easterling has the Chiefs grabbing during the NFL Draft’s second day.
No. 54. Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
Size: 5’11, 200 lbs.
The majority of Chiefs Kingdom will scoff at this first pick simply because it’s not a defensive player, but this might be a better get than most people think.
Let’s ignore the tremendous talents of Christian Kirk for example and look at the need. The Chiefs are likely going to watch Albert Wilson leave in free agency unless the price remains right. However, there’s so much salary cap space available for so many teams that it’s hard to see Wilson not being able to find the payday he deserves from some team.
If Wilson leaves, Tyreek Hill, DeMarcus Robinson and Chris Conley for a nice young trio upon which to build but only Hill has proven to be a dangerous target. Conley will hopefully rebound well from his season-ending injury, but adding a top-end receiving target who is so young will give Patrick Mahomes another elite player to grow with.
But here’s the most important part. Kirk is also a returner, and the Chiefs were clearly flatter on special teams without Tyreek Hill returning kicks as well as punts in 2017. The Chiefs could remove Hill from special teams entirely with Kirk’s presence, ditch the Akeem Hunt experiment and not even worry about De’Anthony Thomas as he also hits free agency.
As for the talent that Kirk actually brings, his 33 total touchdowns over the last 3 seasons is the best example of what he brings—a toughness to actually make it into the end zone. (Seven of those touchdowns came via kick and punt returns!) He’d also fit right in the slot from the outset and would give the Chiefs a very dependable, physical receiver to team with one of the NFL’s brightest young offenses.