2nd Year Chiefs: Out of Sight, Not Forgotten – How soon we forget. It was nearly 12 months ago that the unforgettable Covid Draft had every selected pick with their families, zooming from home while the Kansas City Chiefs heads of state were picking and grinning from their basements. We might also have forgotten that the first 4 prospects that the Chiefs chose, will play an integral role on the team in 2021. Another year when this team is attempting to win it all, once again.
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Pick #32: RB, Clyde Edwards-Helaire
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Many were… or maybe they still are… critical of the addition of Clyde Edwards-Helaire (CEH) in the first round. I was recently reviewing the ranking services from a year ago and CEH wasn’t the highest ranked RB, nor was he ranked a 1st round value. Since the season has ended, many still begrudge his selection, but I believe his full potential is in front of him… and in front of us. Here’s what David Bell had to say when CEH was drafted nearly a year ago now:
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“… my view was that the CB and LB groups had to get deeper and stronger in a hurry so I had believed round one would go that way… CB or LB. For the Chiefs, Veach made the round one Pick the BPA of their draft board because Veach had some knowledge about how the prospects would fall off the board in front of his pick. So, the player that Veach and Reid wanted, as it turns out, was CEH. This has been revealed from multiple sources. CEH fit the Chiefs offense, his intelligence won over Reid and Bieniemy at the Combine. His 1867 all purpose yards, 1400+ rushing, 55 catches, and 17 TD’s… was exactly what the doctor ordered. CEH ranked second among all Running Backs in the nation.”
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David makes a good point here that we should remember this year… that other positions have to get deeper and stronger… because we may end up disappointed if GM Brett Veach drafts anyone other than a LT in two weeks. David goes on:
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“The Chiefs were impressed as well, due to the complexity of the Tigers offense and the fact that CEH was the 2019 Team MVP. This is why Brett Veach selected Clyde Edwards-Helaire as their #1 draft pick.”
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The only aspect of Edwards-Helaire’s game that is a concern is, his ability to protect Patrick Mahomes on a more consistent basis. Bigger and stronger Linebackers can bowl him over so I expect Darrel WIlliams to get more looks this year which, should only make CEH a better back when he’s on the field.
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Pick #63: LB, Willie Gay Jr.
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A year ago I wrote a piece called: “Chiefs Draft A Perfect ILB and Huge OT” referring to Willie Gay and Lucas Niang. This past year Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo brought Gay along slowly and by the time the playoffs rolled around Gay was expected to get a lion’s share of the game action, but that’s just when he tore his meniscus, which… required surgery. After a full year of recovery, he should be back to doing Willie Gay type things, such as Caleb James points out in this breakdown of a great play made by Gay:
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Players often have a breakout season in their second year, and that’s what I’m expecting from Willie Gay this year. Here’s the college RAS on Gay:
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Pick #96: OT, Lucas Niang
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Lucas Niang is an unknown. While that may be true, mostly, we do know some things about him. Niang had successful hip surgery the first week of November… 2019. That’s a year and a half ago and we’ve seen him moving well in workouts from this past year when he opted out because of the pandemic.
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That wasn’t the only video that Niang posted on his Twitter account. Here’s one filmed a week earlier:
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There are others. Here one from the month before those videos:
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By looking through these videos of Niang’s workouts, you can see why Jordan Reid of The Draft Network would say Niang is, “Nimble despite his large frame, and a well-conditioned athlete….” While nothing replaces real game action, there was the possibility that the Chiefs were going to put Niang on IR during much of 2020 anyway, but then Schwartz went down. Consequently, we never could have anticipated needing Niang so soon. He played with a hip injury in 2019 or else he may have gone much higher in the draft so, K.C. was fortunate to pick him up where they did. David Bell has shared with me more than once, that “Niang has good feet” and now we get to see K.C. reap the rewards of being patient with an OL who could become a very, very good Offensive Tackle.
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Pick 138: CB, L’Jarius Sneed
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I don’t think anyone saw this coming. We were all calling for Veach to take a CB high in the draft and were then disappointed when he didn’t take one until the end of the 4th round… then the 2020 season happened, and we were all happy again. Very. Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports did a re-draft of the 2020 NFL draft and Sneed finished in the top ten, and was the top rated CB from last year. The top ten of this 2020 Re-draft looked like this:
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Aren’t you glad Sneed didn’t end up in Carolina?! I’m excited to see what L’Jarius Sneed does in 2021 and beyond. Based on his rookie year, he looks like he has the potential to become one of the best corners in the league.
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Pick #237: CB, BoPete Keyes
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Veach traded a 6th round pick of the Chiefs in 2021, for a 7th round pick of the Tennessee Titans last year, so he could select CB BoPete Keyes. Keyes should get his shot this year and both of the Chiefs DB Coaches, Dave Merritt and Sam Madison, were excited about him when he was drafted.
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The intent here was to focus specifically on the Chiefs “draft picks” from 2020, and consequently, not included in this discussion are the UDFA players, Tershawn Wharton or Tommy Townsend… but they will not be forgotten either… as I believe both will improve their performances in 2021. Also, let’s not forget OT Prince Tega Wanogho who was a 6th round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles last year, but signed by Veach just this past January. On top of those players already mentioned, did you know the Chiefs OL Yasir Durant was projected as a third round pick last year before K.C. signed him as a UDFA? He could end up being an answer along the Chiefs OL in 2021. Both he and Prince Tega Wanogho, could end up having a bigger impact on the Chiefs offseason plans than any of us realize.
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Now, I can’t wait — 15 more days and counting — to see what other goodies Veach will come up with in this draft. We are both spoiled rotten in Chiefs Kingdom — mostly because of Andy Reid — and, have incredibly high expectations, having won the whole shebang just 14 months ago. Would you have it any other way? Go Chiefs!
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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