2018 NFL mock draft: Lorenzo Carter projected to Kansas City Chiefs
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs could pick up a nice well-rounded linebacker in the second round if the latest mock draft from CBS Sports is right.
The latest mock draft out from R.J. White over at CBS Sports goes two rounds in total, which gives us at least a first glimpse of what the Kansas City Chiefs draft class might resemble and the result should please fans who want to see more impact players on the defensive side of the ball.
White has the Chiefs staying at their spot at No. 54 overall to select linebacker Lorenzo Carter from the University of Georgia. White says:
"The Chiefs use their first pick on an upgrade for their edge rusher who should eventually develop into a three-down starter."
Carter came into his career at Georgia as a highly regarded recruit, but he never quite broke through until his junior year when he really began to get after opposing quarterbacks. He made the All-SEC second team with 62 total tackles for the Bulldogs last season as a senior, including 8.5 for a loss. He had 4.5 sacks last year to up his career total to 14. He also has 6 career forced fumbles.
With the addition of Carter, the Chiefs will have completely remade their linebacking corps in the first year of Brett Veach’s tenure with the team. He’s already reworked the inside completely with the addition of Reggie Ragland last summer and the signing of former Dallas Cowboys inside linebacker Anthony Hitchens at the start of free agency.
Ragland and Hitchens are expected to form the starting core in the team’s base defense inside while Justin Houston and Dee Ford anchor the outside positions. Carter will likely work in rotation with both outside linebackers, earning chances to rush the passer, but it also wouldn’t surprise to see Carter given some inside reps as well to see how he handles the responsibility.