A Chiefs fan’s guide to the NFL Draft: Final Mock Draft

Round 2 – Pick 54 overall – Nathan Shepherd – Defensive Tackle – Fort Hays State

I really like the idea of drafting Georgia’s Lorenzo Carter in this spot, but I fear he may be off the board by the time the Chiefs select here. He was off the board in two of the five mock draft simulations that I did. Another option with this pick would be safeties like Justin Reid and Jessie Bates. However, they both could be off the board as well and with the Chiefs already adding to their secondary with their previous selection I went with a big man up front in Fort Hays State’s Nathan Shepherd. Obviously, Shepherd wasn’t featured in any of my four previous pieces, but if I had done one on interior defensive linemen he would have definitely made the list.

Shepherd has the physical size and tools to be a perfect fit for the Chiefs. His length and physical strength make him a good fit for a 3-4 defensive end in the base defense and an eventual replacement for Allen Bailey. He also has a great motor and quickness for a man his size that would make him an immediate impact player inside on passing downs. Shepherd is a little old for a rookie (he’ll turn 25 as a rookie) but his physical maturity would allow him to play and contribute right away. His story is fascinating as he is originally from Canada and worked in a factory to save up money so he could come to America to go to school. He seems like the kind of player the Chiefs could really fall in love with.

I think the combination of adding both Mike Hughes in the secondary and Nathan Shepherd up front in the second round of this draft would instantly bolster the KC defense.

Now let’s move on to the third round where I had to choose between two of my very favorite prospects in this entire draft class.