Mock draft season is in full swing for the Kansas City Chiefs, and there's no shortage of projections to be found. Simulators allow fans to pretend as if they are in the seat of Brett Veach as the team's general manager, but no one's efforts are as widely viewed as the original himself: Mel Kiper Jr.
Kiper, a longtime ESPN analyst, is the most recognized NFL draft expert on the planet, so when he speaks, it's worth a listen. And this year, he's encouraging the Chiefs to go for broke when it comes to adding the most talented player they possibly can.
Kiper's latest mock draft is out, and the Chiefs are in a rare position at No. 9 overall in the first round, following a depressing season in which they fell out of the NFL postseason race early and landed with a thud at 6-11 overall. While it's no fun to sit in January and watch other teams continue to play meaningful football, it does give K.C. a real chance at a blue-chip prospect.
The ESPN analyst says the Kansas City Chiefs need to ignore positional value and just go for it in the first round.
That's why Kiper says the Chiefs should just hit an easy home run in the first round with the selection of Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
Love is the draft's top-ranked running back across the board, and he should be after rushing for 35 touchdowns in the last two seasons alone for the Fighting Irish. This year, Love anchored Notre Dame's offense with a robust 6.9 yards/carry—matching last year's avearge—and 1,372 yards on the ground. He also added 27 catches for 280 yards and 3 touchdown receptions.
"Ignoring positional value, Love is the second-best prospect on my Big Board," writes Kiper. That's a key statement here. Running back is one of the easiest places to find cost-effective talent—either in free agency or the draft. The Chiefs could use help at spots that are much tougher to land top-end talent—think wide receiver, edge rusher—but Kiper says Love is worth the plunge.
Despite the ability to find solid production at lower costs, Veach has not managed in that department for a few years now, which is why running back has become the roster's sore spot. The Chiefs arguably fielded the NFL's least-dynamic backfield with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt as the primary tandem, mixed in with a confusing reticence to test Brashard Smith in that lot.
Love would turn the whole position upside down. Suddenly, the least effective roster spot would boast the most thrilling skill position talent. Just like that, the offensive priorities would shift and defenses would have to account for a new player that opens up the offense. Kiper thinks the juice is worth the squeeze for the Chiefs there, leaving them to solve other problems in later rounds. It remains to be seen if Veach agrees.