2022 mock draft: Chiefs land safety Dax Hill in first round

The latest mock draft is in from NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah over at the league’s official site, and the Kansas City Chiefs are projected to bolster their secondary with some talent and youth at safety with the selection of Dax Hill.

Jeremiah is a former NFL scout with the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cleveland Browns, so while mock drafts are always a dicey affair, there’s a reason to respect his over others released throughout the pre-draft season.

As for the Chiefs’ official pick here at No. 30 overall, Jeremiah has the Chiefs going with a Big Ten product with the selection of Hill. He also explains why he has the Chiefs going safety so early when he writes, “Hill could fill the void if Tyrann Mathieu departs in free agency. He can play from back deep to covering in the slot.”

A new mock draft Daniel Jeremiah has the Chiefs taking a first-round safety.

Hill weighs in at 192 pounds and stands 6’0″ tall. He finished last season, his third for Michigan, with 69 tackles, 8 pass deflections, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 interceptions. As far as a prospect, he’s well-rounded with the versatility to play corner at the pro level as well, which feeds right into what the Chiefs love so much about Mathieu as a versatile weapon for Steve Spagnuolo.

As for our take, it’s hard to argue with the use of a first-round pick at safety if the team does allow Mathieu to leave. However, that would be a major shift from what the team has been saying publicly for a year about wanting to bring back the team’s star safety on a new contract extension. It would also mean wholesale defensive changes for the Chiefs from front to back knowing the rebuild that’s coming up front as well.