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2022 NFL Draft crushes for the Kansas City Chiefs

By Lyle Graversen

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - SEPTEMBER 26: George Pickens #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on September 26, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas The Bulldogs defeated the Razorbacks 37-10. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - SEPTEMBER 26: George Pickens #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on September 26, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas The Bulldogs defeated the Razorbacks 37-10. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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TALLAHASSEE, FL – NOVEMBER 6: Defensive End Jermaine Johnson II #11 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game against the NC State Wolfpack at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on November 6, 2021 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Wolfpack defeated the Seminoles 28 to 14. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – NOVEMBER 6: Defensive End Jermaine Johnson II #11 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game against the NC State Wolfpack at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on November 6, 2021 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Wolfpack defeated the Seminoles 28 to 14. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

The Chiefs desperately need both starting caliber players and depth at the edge position. It is vital that they come away from this draft with at least one solid contributor there and maybe two if they can. The top three edge players in this class (Aiden Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Travon Walker) would all be great, but I’m assuming they will all go so early that K.C. trading up for them would be hard to do. Here are three of my favorites that are at least a little more realistic.

Defensive Ends

Jermaine Johnson II – Florida State – 6-foot-4 – 254 pounds
Consensus Big Board Ranking: #12 (1st Round)

While the top three edge prospects aren’t likely to make it out of the top ten picks, there is at least a slight chance that Jermaine Johnson does. If that happens, I would love to see the Chiefs make a move up to get him. While I certainly wouldn’t want to overpay to move up, if the price wasn’t too steep I think Johnson is worth it. I have a pretty sizable gap between Johnson and the next edge player (George Karlaftis).

If the Chiefs want an edge player that can start from day one, be an impact pass rusher, and is able to stay on the field and stop the run, I think Johnson is the guy you want to go get. Like I said, I think Karlaftis is a step down from him and all the edge players after that are either developmental guys that will need time or have a clear weakness in their game (can’t hold the edge in the run game or have limited pass rush upside). There’s a lot of good long term edge prospects in this class, but if you want an every down player as a rookie you’re going to have to move up to get it.

Cameron Thomas – San Diego State – 6-foot-4 – 267 pounds
Consensus Big Board Ranking: #69 (2nd/3rd Round)

Cameron Thomas certainly isn’t in the same league as Jermaine Johnson, but in terms of guys who physically can play the run as a rookie and still offer some pass rush upside, I think Thomas is the guy I like best in the second round. Josh Paschal of Kentucky was close to getting this spot, but I think Thomas is a little better off the edge.

I think a lot of people are sleeping on Thomas because a hamstring injury kept him out of the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. That lack of buzz has turned Thomas into an afterthought when looking at the top 10 edge players in this class, but he absolutely belongs in that conversation. His ability to disengage and move laterally makes him strong against the run, and I think he has more flexibility and burst than others are giving him credit for.

If the Chiefs don’t come out of the first round with an edge player I would absolutely target Thomas at pick 50 and think he’d be a steal at pick 62.

Alex Wright – UAB – 6-foot-5 – 271 pounds
Consensus Big Board Ranking: #132 (4th/5th Round)

If the Chiefs don’t land an edge in the first two rounds (or they want to double down on the position) I really like UAB’s Alex Wright as a possible target in the third or fourth round. The consensus big board has him a little lower than that, but I don’t think edge prospects with his natural abilities make it into the fifth round. I think he’s definitely more impressive coming out of college than Joshua Kaindoh was and the Chiefs were willing to take him in the fourth round last year.

Wright looks like Steve Spagnuolo had him specifically made in a factory to play edge in his system. He’s big, tall, powerful, and has really long arms. He can hold the point of attack against the run and has surprising athleticism and movement skills for a guy his size. He’s incredibly raw and needs tons of technique development, but if you want a lump of clay for Spags to mold, this guy comes in the exact size and skill set that the Chiefs are looking for.

I think the value of a developmental guy like Wright, even in the third round, is still a way better value than taking someone like Boye Mafe (who also needs a ton of development) in the first round.

There’s also some guys I really like to help enforce the middle of KC’s defense.

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