Predicting what Brett Veach will do for KC Chiefs in the 2020 NFL Draft
By Thomas Welte
ROUND ONE
Brett Veach’s Guy: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
The Chiefs have needed a starting-caliber cornerback since the departure of Marcus Peters. Brett Veach found a diamond in the rough when he traded for Charvarius Ward, but outside of that, the cornerback room is running light. The Chiefs have Bashaud Breeland back for 2020, but he will hit the market again next spring and could be upgraded. Rashad Fenton showed promise as a rookie but is likely limited to a slot player.
Gladney is a little short at 5’10, but he has long arms and has some of the smoothest feet of any corner in this class. Gladney resembles Byron Murphy from Washington, a 2019 draft pick that Veach had his eye on. The former Horned Frog is competitive and should excel in the Chiefs defensive scheme. The biggest question is whether or not Gladney will be around at pick 32.
My Guy: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
This was hard because there are some unique talents in the 2020 NFL Draft. Kenneth Murray is far from a perfect player too. I have concerns about his anticipation and ability to sift through traffic, and he is slow to trigger when dropping into coverage. All of that said, the Oklahoma linebacker has a rare combination of size, speed, and strength. Potentially, more importantly, Murray has character and leadership skills that people close to the program rave about.
Draft tidbits:
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2020
— The player teams just like the best seems to #OU LB Kenneth Murray. No negative words on him.
— #Louisville LT Mekhi Becton is the player scouts get most excited about. Potential.
— #UGA OT Andrew Thomas is the player most overlooked publicly who goes highest.
The Chiefs need someone to man the middle of their defense and someone who can learn from one of the strongest leaders in the NFL in Tyrann Mathieu. Murray has athletic skills and can be mentored by the veteran linebackers already on the roster. The upside of this pick is too much to pass on.
The Fan Favorite: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
Ignore the argument on the value of taking a running back early in the draft. Set aside the fact that fellow Arrowhead Addict Grant Tuttle stole this take from me. Ignore the questions about scheme fit. This is a simple pick: Jonathan Taylor is the most talented running back in this class. Adding a running back of his caliber to an already explosive Kansas City offense would be fun for years to come. Plus, Taylor ran a 4.39 at the NFL combine and running under 4.4 seems to be a requirement these days to keep up in Kansas City’s offense.
Everyone Else:
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
There are no guarantees in the NFL draft, but these three players are all scheme fits and fill positions of need. The Chiefs have met with Patrick Queen, so that may make sense. Cesar Ruiz has risen to the top of the interior offensive line group, and the Chiefs know the importance of protecting Mahomes. I would not forget about Yetur Gross-Matos though, he is an ideal fit in a Steve Spagnuolo defense and could be lingering at pick 32.