After the trade of Tyreek Hill, the Kansas City Chiefs have 12 draft picks, including two picks in each of the first four rounds. There have been plenty of conversations about how Kansas City should possibly package its two first-round picks and move up to grab a position of need. However, that may not be the smartest move.
The Chiefs have a few glaring holes on the roster, including the need for a pass rusher, help in the secondary, and another receiving option. Instead of moving in the draft by trading away picks 29 and 30, it is better off for the Chiefs if they wait for talent to slip to them. Every year there is someone who falls late into the first round.
This draft is loaded with defensive talent and receiver depth, and the narrative that the Chiefs should trade up for a wideout is overstated. The Chiefs may miss out on the top-tier wide receivers if they stay put, but Kansas City can easily grab significant talent at the position in the second round.
The Kansas City Chiefs need to employ a patient draft approach if they want to make the most of their abundance of selections.
George Pickens is a name to keep an eye on. Pickens is a prospect that has been under the radar due to a torn ACL suffered in spring practice last March, holding him out for much of the 2021 season. Before tearing his injury, the 21-year-old wideout produced solid numbers in his first two years at Georgia. In 20 games during those two seasons, Pickens caught 85 passes for 1,240 yards and 14 touchdowns. The 6’3, 200-pound receiver showed glimpses of star potential during his time at Georgia.
If the Chiefs want to build an all-around better roster, they should address the cornerback and pass rusher positions with the two first-round selections they possess. However, if Kansas City has someone slip to them or values someone at the wide receiver position at that point of the draft, no one can fault them. With how the wide receiver market is evolving, grabbing a wideout in the first round is not a terrible idea if it’s not reaching.
For one, NFL teams can never have too many weapons. The two teams in the Super Bowl this past year went out and grabbed as many weapons as possible. The Rams and Bengals each had three receivers that could play a monumental role in the outcome of the game.
Secondly, after the Christian Kirk four-year, $85 million deal with the Jaguars, the wide receiver market was altered dramatically. Kirk is a solid receiver, but the contract he signed was overvalued and caused a domino effect. Davante Adams was always seeking to be the highest-paid receiver in the league, but Kirk’s deal justified Adams’ asking price of around $30 million a year. The former Green Bay receiver was keen on joining the Raiders, and the Packers traded him to Las Vegas. Shortly after, the Raiders would sign the 29-year-old receiver to a five-year, $141 million deal, making him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history at $28.5 million a year.
Days after, news broke that Tyreek Hill and the Chiefs had a breakdown in contract talks. Prior to the Adams deal, Hill and the Chiefs were negotiating a contract extension that seemed to be moving in the right direction. After seeing what Adams was making, Hill asked the Chiefs for a higher price, which they obviously felt they could not afford, and decided to trade Hill to the Dolphins. Miami would sign Hill to a four-year, $120 million extension, making the 28-year-old wideout the highest-paid receiver at $30 million annually.
The point I am trying to make here is that by drafting a receiver in the first round, the Chiefs would have whoever they select on a five-year deal compared to a four-year deal if they wait until the second round. Two options that could be intriguing for Kansas City would be Treylon Burks and Christian Watson. Burks has been slipping down multiple teams’ draft boards due to his “poor” combine performance. If teams value the combine that much over game tape, then there is a chance the Arkansas product could fall to Kansas City.
Watson is a very intriguing prospect. At 6’4 and 211 pounds, the former North Dakota State wideout ran a 4.36 40-time and recorded a vertical leap of 38.5 inches. Watson was in a run-first offense, but his raw ability and size are why it could be too good for the Chiefs to pass up if he is there at the back of the first round. In addition to his speed, which is something the Chiefs value in their receivers, Watson also provides size that can be a great help on the outside.
All-in-all, no matter what the Chiefs choose to do, they should stay patient and not package their first-round picks to move up. Kansas City should either address the defense with both first-round picks or go pass rusher/cornerback and wide receiver at 29 and 30. With 12 picks in total, the Chiefs can develop a roster with immense depth.