KC Chiefs find ideal fits in four-round mock draft
By Matt Conner
2nd round – Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky
If position groups could talk, you’d likely hear a collective sigh of relief the moment the Chiefs select any edge rusher prospect in this year’s NFL Draft. That’s because the need is so great, and any investment would be most welcome—even after taking one in the first.
Coming into the offseason, the Chiefs pledged they were going to go to work on the defensive line in hopes of seeing better pass rushing results than they did in 2021. While there’s plenty of runway left in the offseason for Brett Veach to get something done, it’s also true that the only transactions on the defensive line are a couple of moves to bring back familiar faces in Derrick Nnadi and Frank Clark.
Simply put, the Chiefs have to get younger and better on the outside and the selection of Joshua Paschal from Kentucky would go a long way toward shoring up one side. Last season, Pascal had 15 tackles for loss and 5 sacks for the Wildcats and comes to the pro level with a ready frame, thick base, and strong hands. Given his non-stop motor, he is already solid against the run with the twitch to get the job done as a disruptor as well.
Paschal doesn’t project as a high-ceiling pass rusher with some game-altering bend and burst. However, he’s a guy with a known floor higher than most edge prospects in the entire draft class, a guy who does all things well from multiple spots. For a team in need of new fixtures outside, Paschal is the solid addition who will shore up weaknesses and could grow into something special with Mafe in this class.