5. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Why he’s worth the risk:
The Chiefs have already done some early investing in cornerbacks, including the drafting of three of them in the draft next year. The question is now, “Are they going to pay L’Jarius Sneed?” and the answer is, “Probably not.” Historically, the Chiefs don’t invest large sums of money for defensive backs and I don’t believe Sneed will be the exception. In that case, Devon Witherspoon makes a ton of sense in the middle of the first round.
A playmaker, Witherspoon has tremendous instincts and breaks on the ball quickly. Last season, he gave the Fighting Illini a boost with three interceptions, five passes deflected, and 35 tackles. He has a nose for the football and does not shy away from contact.
Why he could fall:
This draft class is sneaky good at cornerback. It would not be at all surprising to see Witherspoon go first of the bunch. On the flip side, it wouldn’t be surprising to look at the draft board at pick 20 and see him still there. With Christian Gonzalez and Joey Porter Jr. both being stellar options in this draft class as well, Witherspoon might take a fall.
Where is the “sweet spot” for moving up?: #22-27
It would be somewhat surprising if Witherspoon was still on the board at this range, but certainly not impossible. With a minor trade up, the Chiefs could have a great trio of cornerbacks and a duo for the long term. Witherspoon, while having a smaller frame, is very physical. The Chiefs would definitely benefit from the energy that he would bring to their already tough crew of defenders.