Chiefs: David and Laddie’s 1st Round Mock 2.0

Chiefs: David and Laddie’s 1st Round Mock 2.0 – When we presented David and Laddie’s Mock 1.0 a month ago, it was before Miami had traded back… and then up again… so here a different take on how we feel the 2021 first round might fall. Now, Miami is rumored to be on the move again. Whether Miami trades out of their current 6th pick or not, is unknown at the moment, but other trades will ultimately happen. In fact, we can see the Kansas City Chiefs trading back out of he first round, more than we can see them trading up. In any case, we’re not projecting trades here, which has become popular among national prognosticators. Here then, with the draft just 8 days away, is our final first round mock of the 2021 draft season: David and Laddie’s Mock 2.0.

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Lawrence is still the solid #1 pick in this draft. Justin Fields may be rated higher by some, but Trevor Lawrence it is! -LM

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Zach Wilson out of BYU is the odds on favorite to go number 2 in this draft, so Wilson will need to get used to the N.Y. media, it’ll be rather different than what’s he’s been used to in Utah. -LM

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Mac Jones has been wed to the 49’ers as if he were already welded in place. I have thought for more than a year that Garoppolo was not viewed by HC Kyle Shanahan as their QBoF. This draft will prove my point. -DB

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We could have gone with TE Kyle Pitts here but the future of the Falcons franchise is at stake, so they go with a pick for the future which gives Lance a year or two, or three to sit and learn. -LM

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Topping the list of needs by the Bengals is OT. You hear from them that they should resolve their OL woes in Free Agency first. I cannot see them passing up on Sewell. Prove me wrong! They have needs across the front, missed on Joe Thuney and Daryl Williams for example in F/A pursuits, but they did sign OT Riley Reiff. Sewell will be their pick unless it is Vera-Tucker. -DB

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Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t had enough time to be properly evaluated so the Dolphins give him perhaps he best TE prospect in 20 years. Tua should excel with a weapon like Pitts on board. -LM

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With a new GM, Brad Holmes, and a new HC, Dan Campbell, the Lions are rebuilding to create long term success. Holmes signed Free Agent WR, Breshad Perriman, and WR Tyler Williams. I still believe they are looking for the future at the role and neither Williams or Perriman are the answer for that. Chase is the answer for a team that has a lot of holes and needs but giving Jared Goff the targets is part of the solution. Picking 7th? Could the Lions surprise us and take a QB? -DB

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While the Panthers traded for QB Sam Darnold, they also are committed to making sure they will have that position covered, in the event that the Darnold trade doesn’t work out. -LM

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The Broncos have needs in the secondary that outweigh what many believe is their need for an Edge Rusher. Patrick Surtain II is a top long term solution. He is Denver’s first round pick. -DB

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The Cowboys get back to dominating on offense. With Dak Prescott returning, and the addition of Slater, the best Ol technician in this draft, they can make sure they score with any team in the league. -LM

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Debating on which of a long list of needed position matches must take place. We believe the top need is a player who helps move the chains, who is a playmaker and who scores TD’s. Giants choose DeVonta Smith as that solution. -DB

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It came down to CB Caleb Farley and WR Jalen Waddle and we decided the Eagles would likely go with the WR here. -LM

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Like the Chiefs, the Chargers have need at OT, and are in position to get one of the top 3 or 4 prospects. Christian Darrisaw is their answer. -DB

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Christian Barmore should help the Vikings along their storied DL. He should be an upgrade on the IDL over Dalvin Tomlinson who was the 2nd round pick of the N.Y. Giants in 2017. -LM

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The Patriots are in need of a QBoF, but they see 5 QBs go off the board before they pick and turn to another position of need so they select Micah Parsons, the top LB in the draft. Bill Belichick is not going to pass on this opportunity. Parsons will lead the defense beginning ASAP and is the right player for the right role for the Pats. -DB

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The Cardinals could go with RB Travis Etienne here, but getting perhaps the best CB in the draft in Farley is too much to pass up. -LM

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No matter what you say about the different moves the Raiders have done thus far (confusing, right!?), they select Kwity Paye as a solution for their top need on the edge. -DB

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The Dolphins seem bent on improving the weapons for Tua and Bateman would help. They could go RB here, but we’re convinced they’ll stay with another WR. -LM

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Washington is in flux and has a big need to protect the QB. They take Jalen Mayfield for the work. -DB

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German Ifedi is fixed at RT, but Charles Leno Jr. out of Boise State was a 7th round pick and Jenkins would be an immediate upgrade. -LM

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Indiana missed out on getting the top OT of their choice and selects a top CB to solve a weakness in the secondary, choosing Jaycee Horn. -DB

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Pairing Jason Oweh with Jeffery Simmons at DE would give the Titans a dynamic pair and with a definite need for an Edge Rusher, Oweh is a great fit. -LM

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Fun stuff for the Jets who need to expand and improve their aerial game. They add WR Kadarius Tony to their arsenal and he is sorely needed. -DB

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Jerome Bettis will approve of this pick and while the Steelers have traditionally gone with RB-by-committee, Harris would give them an immediate impact player at a position of need. -LM

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The Jaguars are another team that needs an OT and they choose Samuel Cosmi from UT. I like this move by the Jags. -DB

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The Browns just signed Jadeveon Clowney and then turned around and released DT Sheldon Richardson, but there’s no DT available here that’s rated as high as Newsome. Since they also have a need at CB, Newsome is a great pick. -LM

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Much to my chagrin, the Ravens need help at WR and take Terrace Marshall off the board. -DB

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The Saints signed Tanoh Kpassagnon this offseason but we all know he’s not the answer for them at DE. Jaelan Phillips should give them an Edge Rusher who will outplay KPass on day one. -LM

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The Packers always seem to select a player that the Chiefs need when their selection precedes the Chiefs. They need to give Aaron Rodgers another target to expand the aerial threat by taking an over-the-top threat by selecting WR Rondale Moore. -DB

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Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah could be the best Linebacker in this draft. JOK had a 36.5 inch vertical jump which shows his explosion. The Bills defense gets better with this pick. -LM

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Things did unfold this way with preceding players off the board. At this point, Alijah Vera-Tucker becomes the Chiefs prominent focus. He could start at OT or on the Interior. It will depend on how the Chiefs perceive having Lucas Niang move outside to the LOT and who they spot to ROT, which will effect where they give an immediate impact job to Vera-Tucker. Any way they go, he’ll be an immediate success on the Chief’s Offensive Line. If the decision is to move Thuney to LOT… Vera-Tucker is the starter at LOG. 

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Antonio Brown was not re-signed this offseason and he’s about the only player they haven’t brought back. There must be a good reason for that, not the least of which is his possible outstanding legal issues. On the field, the Bucs can replace hi with one of the speedy wideouts available in this draft. Moore — and his 4.35 – 40 yard dash — is a fit. -LM

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Conclusion

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David and I had hoped that either ER Jaelan Phillips or WR Terrace Marshall would fall to K.C. at #31. However, armed with the newest insights we’ve had over recent weeks, we chose to fairly slot prospects exactly where they fell. With the Monday comments by Andy Reid about not knowing who he will slot into the the Left Tackle position, but believing he had all the players he needed, it leaves Veach with the task of drafting the BPA, as we’ve done here. Here’s what Reid said when he was asked about the IOL and the Left Tackle positions and whether or not he had an in-house solution:

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“We forget about a couple of them… [Lucas] Niang was another one that we had high hopes for last year and had a couple of nice days with us before he opted out. I think we’re okay there now, but I’ve said this before, Brett’s always keeping his eyes open. We’ll just see how it all ends up, but we’ve got some good competition in there.” 

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That led David and I to think about the possibility Veach could go with the best IOL at that point in the draft. We never set out to draft an IOL like Alijah Vera-Tucker, but he was the obvious choice when we got to that point. -LM

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What do you think?

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David Bell and Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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