Kansas City Chiefs in perfect position for falling NFL Draft prospects
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs are in an ideal position to benefit from the falling stock, for one reason or another, of several NFL Draft prospects.
This time of year includes myriad reports on NFL Draft prospects on a daily basis, and the majority of those bits of news are about which players are red hot and gaining interest in the days and weeks leading up to the actual event.
However, from time to time, we actually hear about a player whose draft stock is taking a bit of a tumble. Perhaps some negative events from the players past has resurfaced (think Laremy Tunsil on draft night) or they end up injuring themselves in the pre-draft process (think Sidney Jones at his pro day). While most prospects end up improving their draft stock during this time of year, it can be detrimental for others.
Take, for example, the unfortunate scenario unfolding for Nick Nelson, cornerback from Wisconsin. He went from showing off his solid skill set for teams in hopes to creep up draft boards. Instead, he’s hoping he doesn’t fall too far with news that he needs surgery and that even being ready for training camp might be an issue:
What can be bad news for players at this time can actually be beneficial for certain teams with the ability to be patient (or with a general manager who is not on the hot seat). One of those teams is the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Consider this: the Chiefs have a few needs for a starter entering the draft without a single first round pick. They have one pick in the second round and two picks in the third and fourth rounds each. If they are unable to grab a cornerback at a value they like early, then they are now able to take a chance on a potential starter like Nelson a bit later and come away with better value (while hopefully grabbing starting potential at another position).
It takes a certain GM to make a move like this, but Brett Veach has already shown himself to be willing to take on such risks in recent trades like the Reggie Ragland deal. He bought low on a player with a future mid-round pick not knowing for sure if the former Alabama linebacker would be able to return from ACL injury all the way. Yet by season’s end, the gamble paid off and Ragland himself says he’ll be even better next season.
Veach took another chance on Cam Erving, hoping that a change of environment and coaching staff might do the trick for the former first rounder. He also signed David Amerson in hopes that the still young cornerback can find his mojo in K.C.’s defensive backfield knowing he can hit the market once again next year.
These sorts of falling prospects like Nelson (or Mo Hurst or others) allow the Chiefs to get within range of talent that might not have been available for them previously. At the very least it allows them to potentially get greater value by taking a greater risk, and a team with more mid-round assets at its disposal is in the ideal position to take such flyers.