Todd McShay’s 2021 mock draft has the story wrong for the Chiefs

A new 2021 mock draft from Todd McShay has the story wrong for the Kansas City Chiefs.

If Todd McShay is right about the Kansas City Chiefs selection in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, everyone would be pleased. That’s because, in his latest mock for the 2021 draft, he has the Chiefs not only selecting at No. 32 overall (which means back to back championships for Andy Reid and company), but he also has them selecting Stanford cornerback Paulson Adebo.

The Chiefs are a lock to select at or near the bottom of the first round before the season even begins, and the idea of adding an impact corner high in the draft has been a dream for Chiefs fans for the last few years—ever since Marcus Peters was traded away. The Chiefs have won a Super Bowl with a patchwork approach, but a high-end investment would bolster an already impressive secondary.

But what’s interesting about McShay’s pick is that it’s all wrong—at least in its reasoning. If McShay had just selected Adebo, who is a wonderful prospect, by the way, and said nothing more, then there would be no issues here. But check out what McShay has to say about the Chiefs at the position:

"Despite questions about the group, K.C. didn’t select a corner in 2020 until the seventh round, and both projected 2020 starters — Bashaud Breeland and Charvarius Ward — will be free agents after the season."

First of all, the Chiefs used their fourth round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on L’Jarius Sneed out of Louisiana Tech. Yes, Sneed played safety in his final season but he was a versatile defensive back coming out who played three full seasons at corner. In addition, the team was clear that he would be moved back to cornerback at the pro level and that’s where he’s been working in the preseason.

In addition, Charvarius Ward will not be a free agent after this season. Ward will be a restricted free agent after the season, which means he will be paid considerably more in 2021, but it would be a big surprise if that was not with the Chiefs. Brett Veach has the right of first refusal on any deal that Ward signs with another team and it’s impossible to think the Chiefs would allow him to walk with the depth chart already so thin.

Yes, the Chiefs could use some help at cornerback and it makes sense for them to finally use a first round pick at the position, but the cupboards aren’t bare, as they say, for the Chiefs moving forward. Ward will be back. Rashad Fenton will have another year under his belt with plenty more experience. Sneed and Keyes will be in year two as well. That’s four young corners, each with experience, to form the foundation of a unit that could easily import a veteran or two.

As for Adebo, we would approve. A first-round corner like the Stanford ballhawk would make a major impact. But the Chiefs aren’t as desperate as they’ve been made out to be.