KC Chiefs 7-round Mock Draft: Pass rush becomes early priority

Let’s get the question out of the way: if the first pick wasn’t an offensive lineman, then how are the Chiefs overlooking the needs there once again? Our guiding principle here is to never reach for a position when a tremendous value falls into our lap, and that’s exactly what happened here. It was painful to not write the words “OL” on the (imaginary) draft card here, but Jamin Davis is called a “total package” at linebacker for good reason.

The hope here is that when the Chiefs look back on this draft class (if it plays out this way), that the memories won’t be of short-term needs along the offensive front but rather what an incredible player they drafted in Davis. Besides, it’s not as if the Chiefs are set at linebacker. Even with last year’s draft of Willie Gay, Jr. in the second round, the team still has a need for dynamism at the position and that’s a great way to define what Davis adds.

Davis is a do-it-all linebacker from Kentucky who has been projected to go in the first round by the likes of Mel Kiper and Todd McShay. Here, Davis somehow falls through nearly two full rounds before being grabbed by Veach, who now might have one of the NFL’s most talented up-and-coming linebacker tandems in the league. Just like Paye, this is a tremendous upside play as a player with limited tape yet excellent measurable. He’s tough and athletic with good hands and burst.

There’s a lot to like about Davis and the way he could be employed in any number of ways.While an ideal spot for him could be the WILL slot likely penciled in for Gay, Davis is certainly versatile enough to slot in elsewhere. He also gives them a bit of insurance in case Gay’s growth curve doesn’t go as planned after a spotty first season (albeit one with a very limited preseason).