With news that Kyler Murray will be playing football after all, the Kansas City Chiefs will be that much closer to a better prospect.
The saying reads, “Every little bit helps.” That much is true even in the 2019 NFL Draft, where Kyler Murray’s recent announcement to focus solely on football and put all of his training efforts toward readying for the NFL Draft gives the Kansas City Chiefs a little bit of a boost.
Right now, the Chiefs are scheduled to pick at No. 29 overall in the first round with an additional two picks in the second round, giving them 3 of the top 60 picks in the 2019 draft. While they will undoubtedly add talented players at those positions, it’s often hard for a true impact player to fall in the first all the way to the bottom of the round.
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Most years, you will hear general managers describe a draft class with a limited amount of blue chip players followed by an available pool of slightly lesser talented guys. Last year a safety like Derwin James fell all the way to the L.A. Chargers at No. 17 when he was predicted as a top 10 pick. Sometimes the slide happens, but the Chiefs can’t necessarily count on 28 teams before them to miss multiple times.
However the one position the Chiefs are settled on that they will never select so early in the draft is quarterback. Sure, they might reach for one later, especially on Day 3, but the Chiefs have no place for one in the early rounds. That means every talented quarterback, ones who will earn first round consideration, will take up a valuable slot before the Chiefs pick—bumping down one more desirable prospect to them.
A few days ago, only Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins and Missouri’s Drew Lock were considered to be sure things. That means the Chiefs would have access to the 27th best prospect, if things were so linear, if they remain at No. 29. If every little bit helps, then the arrival of Murray’s certainty to play in the NFL means that ticks down another notch. It’s even better if a team in front of the Chiefs falls in love with Duke’s Daniel Jones or West Virginia’s Will Grier.
It might not seem like much—and it’s not in the scheme of things—but remember how often a great draft can come down to a single spot. The New Orleans Saints were reportedly set to take Patrick Mahomes at No. 11 yet the Chiefs slid right in at No. 10 to take him instead. The farther down a draft board a desirable prospect falls, it makes it that much more likely the Chiefs will be able to take him—either by waiting or trade efforts to move up.
Murray brings the Chiefs one step closer to their next first round import. Here’s hoping the quarterback class heats up even more.