The Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive interior would feel unfair to opposing teams if they can match Mazi Smith with Chris Jones.
At this point, it almost feels blasphemous to not list a defensive end of offensive tackle as the choice in any mock draft for the Kansas City Chiefs. After all, there are major needs at both positions for both the short and the long term. However, not only are we trying to keep things interesting here, but there are other rounds and other means by which Brett Veach might address at least some of those concerns.
Sometimes it’s worth setting aside assumed needs or norms when you find the right talent and Michigan defensive lineman Mazi Smith is certainly such a talent.
Smith weighed in at the NFL Combine at 6’3, 323 lbs., giving him the obvious physical stature needed to line up in a nose tackle sort of role. Mazi isn’t on par with Dontari Poe from Chiefs’ draft history or even Jordan Davis from last year, but if he was already flashing that pro-ready production, he would have been gone far before now.
What Mazi does offer is an instant run-stuffer better than anyone the Chiefs have employed up front in several years. He also has the upside to potentially offer decent disruption with the strength and surprising athleticism to go with his immense build.
Putting a player like Smith next to Chris Jones would neutralize the interior gaps against most teams. It would also help the Chiefs more than make up for the free agent losses of Derrick Nnadi and Brandon Williams. With Turk Wharton also returning from a season-ending injury (and Jones getting more expensive), having a high-ceiling yet cost-controlled asset along the defensive interior would be a good use of a pick in the first round.