2019 NFL Draft overview: Kansas City Chiefs add 6 selections in 7 rounds

The Kansas City Chiefs have officially added six new rookies via the 2019 NFL Draft including three picks on both sides of the ball.

The book has officially closed on the 2019 NFL Draft, and the Kansas City Chiefs walked away with six official new additions to the roster from the draft’s total of seven rounds.

The Chiefs official first round pick should be known as Frank Clark, since this draft class is largely predicated on bringing in Clark to anchor the new front line for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. That said, six real rookies also joined the team, giving the Chiefs three new imports on each side of the ball.

Here’s a quick rundown on who the Chiefs were able to add:

WR Mecole Hardman (Georgia) – 2nd round

Given the suspension for Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs made maintaining the NFL’s best offense their top priority by grabbing the player most likely to live up to Tyreek-esque expectations. Hardman will be a work in progress, but Andy Reid will find ways to utilize his top end speed to create mismatches aplenty.

S Juan Thornhill (Virginia) – 2nd round

This is likely the best overall selection for the Chiefs—or at least the one set to make the greatest impact in year one. Thornhill has already drawn rave reviews from Brett Veach and the Chiefs coaching staff and everyone seems to be picturing him as the team’s starting free safety next to Tyrann Mathieu moving forward. He’ll face competition like anyone else, but it’s Thornhill’s job to lose in training camp. Veach particularly noted his ability to be a “chess piece” for Spags going forward.

DT Khalen Saunders (Western Illinois) – 3rd round 

The Chiefs might have claimed themselves a spot as one of the NFL’s top 3 defensive fronts with the addition of Khalen Saunders in the third. Veach said the team had a high second round grade on Saunders, but walked away with the small-school behemoth in the third at No. 84 overall. Saunders offers a high-upside athletic tackle with true disruptive abilities at the pro level. He’ll need time to make the leap but he should make it.

CB Rashad Fenton (South Carolina) – 6th round

This feels like the only real reach in the draft for the Chiefs. Cornerback is the team’s biggest need, yet the Chiefs were in an odd place to take corners the entire weekend. Even here, three of the five players taken before Fenton were cornerbacks, and it’s likely that Fenton could have been had as a rookie free agent. Fenton will make his mark on special teams, but the opportunity is in front of him to surprise and earn some real playing time earlier than expected.

RB Darwin Thompson (Utah State) – 6th round

The Chiefs were expected to add competition to the backfield at some point in the draft as the team adjusts to life post-Kareem Hunt. Thompson was a one-year wonder at Utah State, but he averaged 6.8 yards/carry in the Mountain West. Expect Thompson to be a pleasant surprise in K.C. and someone who could put up nice numbers unexpectedly in the NFL’s most potent offense.

C Nick Allegretti (Illinois) – 7th round

The Chiefs love adding late round linemen to develop, and Allegretti gives them another big body from Illinois. Allegretti has been a two year team captain with 36 consecutive starts at all points along the interior. He’ll team with Kahlil McKenzie and Jimmy Murray to give the Chiefs their new crop of developmental linemen.