2020 NFL mock draft: Chiefs linked with Javon Kinlaw, Shaun Wade

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 09: Javon Kinlaw #3 of the South Carolina Gamecocks warms up before their game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 09: Javon Kinlaw #3 of the South Carolina Gamecocks warms up before their game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 16: Bo Melton #18 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights carries the ball as Shaun Wade #24 of the Ohio State Buckeyes defends at SHI Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 16: Bo Melton #18 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights carries the ball as Shaun Wade #24 of the Ohio State Buckeyes defends at SHI Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Shaun Wade, cornerback

Shaun Wade is a 6’1, 194 lb. cornerback prospect from Ohio State. Wade has 24 total tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 interception in 10 games this season.

They say: “Ohio State’s Shaun Wade is playing inside as the nickelback for the Buckeyes and even if Wade fills the same role for the Chiefs, he’s a massive upgrade and well worth a first-round pick for a team with so few holes on the active roster.”

We say: The only members of the depth chart under contract through next year are Charvarius Ward and Rashad Fenton. The selection of Wade or at least some corner in the first couple rounds is going to be vital for a team that’s been dealing with stopgap solutions ever since Brett Veach has arrived.

The Chiefs are quite fortunate that Ward and Fenton have both turned the corner. Before opinions had swayed on their starting potential, it looked as if the Chiefs had zero starters for next year. Now Ward looks like a nice young starter and Fenton looks like he could man the middle. It makes the immediacy a bit less in terms of making this a first round corner.

If someone is there who deserves the first round pick, a cornerback makes sense and maybe that means Wade is the right player. If not, however, the Chiefs could get away with a Day 2 addition and a smart veteran signing or two and likely come away fine enough.

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