KC Chiefs 7-round mock draft brings serious defensive help

By Evan Mead | Mar 13, 2022

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 11: Cade Otton #87 of the Washington Huskies catches the ball against Daxton Hill #30 of the Michigan Wolverines during the second quarter of the game at Michigan Stadium on September 11, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

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Mike Rose of Iowa State. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

4.102: Mike Rose, LB, Iowa State

Mike Rose started the college season off as one of the top linebackers available according to NFL draft experts. However, after a season in which he regressed from a production standpoint, he dropped down draft boards.

The reasoning for this pick has to do with the cut of Anthony Hitchens. The linebacker group is in the very capable hands of Nick Bolton and Willie Gay Jr. but that isn’t enough in my opinion. They could use a linebacker who complements them both, and that’s why I made this selection.

Bolton came onto the scene as an elite run-stopping linebacker, but he was terrible in coverage. Willie Gay was just a really good linebacker in all aspects. Mike Rose on the other hand complements them both because of his great coverage skills.

Rose played the OLB role at Iowa State in which he was generally set to play in cover two or cover four. He was a very good zone coverage linebacker, but he is not great in man, which we don’t really need him to do. We have other cornerbacks and safeties who can take on that role. But for now, we need a guy who can play in coverage at the linebacker position. That leaves us with Mike Rose.

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