KC Chiefs linked to Xavier McKinney in latest NFL.com mock draft

The latest mock draft over at NFL.com between Peter Schrager and Daniel Jeremiah gives the Kansas City Chiefs a new safety in Xavier McKinney.

Over at NFL.com, reporters Peter Schrager and Daniel Jeremiah decided to do a mock draft in-person in which viewers can watch them go back and forth interview-style. It’s a fun set-up and even more interesting to hear their perspectives. Jeremiah took the odd-numbered teams while Schrager took the rest, which meant he was responsible for the Kansas City Chiefs pick in the first round at No. 32 overall.

With that pick, Schrager projected the Chiefs to take Alabama safety Xavier McKinney. McKinney comes to the Chiefs with plenty of high-end starting experience (two years) for Nick Saban’s defense against elite competition. He also brings versatility with playing time as a free safety, strong safety, or even defending the slot. In those two years starting for the Crimson Tide, McKinney had 15 batted passes, 5 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles, 6 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss.

McKinney’s presence would likely allow the Chiefs to move on from the financial hit of Daniel Sorensen in the secondary, although his presence would certainly be missed after seeing the clutch plays he made during the postseason. However, Sorensen’s release would save the team $4 million, which is no small amount for the Chiefs at this juncture.

McKinney would also be a major upgrade for the team overall at safety and would give them three starting caliber safeties, a helpful move given how often they play in sub packages anyway. He’d relieve the team’s need for a linebacker who could cover, and he’d also provide insurance in case Juan Thornhill isn’t good to go. Undoubtedly it’d be the deepest and most talented safety unit in the NFL.