Chiefs: My Draft Crush(s)

Laddie Morse

When you spend as much time as I do looking over possible Kansas City Chiefs draft choices, you’re bound to fall in love with some prospects more than others. It occurs to me that the same phenomena is likely true for Veach and his scouts… but I digress. So, let’s take a look at several of the prospects I like for K.C. at pick #31 and pick #63, their first two choices in April, a draft that is now only 4 weeks away from today.

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Pick #31 Crushes

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Darnell Wright, OT

Darnell Wright hails from Tennessee, the same school that brought us Trey Smith two years ago. It’s hard for me to tell if that connection has created a bias on my part, or not, but Darnell Wright is worthy of the Chiefs first pick overall at #31. Wright is 6-foot-5, and weighs 337 and ran a 5.01 – 40 yard dash, which means he was really moving for a big guy! DraftBuzz.com has Wright ranked as the 6th best OT in this draft. DrafTek has Wright ranked as the 5th best OT while CBS Sports has him ranked as the 4th best OT.

DraftBuzz says of Wright:

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Darnell Wright from Huntington High School was rated a 5-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 5-star grade by 247 Sports. Following high school, Wright opted to join Tennessee after receiving offers from Alabama, Georgia, and LSU… In 2022, as a senior, Wright saw action in 12 games and played a total of 829 snaps for the Volunteers. He allowed a solid 5 QB hurries, 2 QB hits, and no sacks while playing at right tackle.

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Ian Cummings wrote a piece about Darnell Wright for ProFootballNetwork.com which came out this past Monday in which he said:

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“Viewed as a sleeper in the summer of 2022, Tennessee OT Darnell Wright has vaulted up boards and is now a potential first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft… Since arriving at Tennessee, Wright has only kept climbing… Settling in at right tackle in 2022, Wright locked down his end of the line for quarterback Hendon Hooker, staving off opponents like Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. and Florida’s Brenton Cox Jr. Wright earned first-team All-SEC honors for his play.”

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While I’m hoping that Darnell Wright becomes a Chief, I’m not so sure they’d want to spend a first round pick on a prospect who would play “Right” Tackle. That’s the rub!

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Quoting Will Anderson of Iowa, is the perfect lead in to my next crush…

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Will Anderson IV, EDGE

Will Anderson is 6-foot-3 and weighs 248, about the same size as Frank Clark. Anderson ran a 4.60 – 40 yard dash whereas Frank Clark ran a 4.79. There’s Will Anderson IV out of Iowa State and then there’s Will Anderson Jr. out of Alabama. You have to work to keep them separated. However, Bleacher Report has a piece on him (the IV) and they say:

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“No. 5 on Bruce Feldman’s list of exceptional athletes, 42″ to 43″ vertical, 11′ broad jump, 6’10” wingspan, can do backflips standing still and jump over cars, according to Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell…. Outside of Will Anderson Jr., there might not be a more accomplished pass-rusher in this year’s draft class than Will McDonald IV. The three-time first-team All-Big 12 selection and two-time Hendricks Award semifinalist is a great athlete, and he has a wide array of pass-rushing moves that he can win with and carry over to the NFL.”

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Here’s are some of Will Anderson IV’s highlights. See what you think:

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I like the idea of the Chiefs sticking with a young EDGE Rusher from his rookie season onward while training him up. I also like that Tamba Hali has returned to help George Karlaftis with his offseason workouts. However, I’d like to see Carlos Dunlap get re-signed to help train Will Anderson IV. That would be ideal, both on the field and off. It woudl also give WAIV more time to develop.

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Pick #63 Crushes

Keion White, DE

Keeon White played his first three years at Old Dominion then transferred to Georgia Tech. He’s 6-foot-5, weighs 285 and runs a 4,79 – 40 yard dash. Now, a 4.79 is incredibly fast for a guy as big as he is. He’s an exceptional athlete and once played tight end in high school (as well as when he first got to Old Dominion) when he was playing both ways (offense and defense). In his last season at Georgia Tech he had 54 tackles, 14 Tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks in 12 games. Here’s what the Draft Network has to say about him:

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“White is an incredible athlete and moves in ways that a 290-pound human being should not be able to. There is a rep versus Virginia where White turns and runs with a running back down the sideline on a wheel route and was step-for-step with him. On tape, he can operate with his hand in the dirt or as a stand-up edge. White has the positional flexibility to reduce inside and pressure the quarterback from the interior. He possesses the power to soften edges and flatten angles to the football. White can drive blockers backward with his heavy punches and lower-body strength. White has a high motor and does not give up on plays.”

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Taking off in coverage for a DL is incredible. I don’t really like when Steve Spagnuolo has his defensive linemen do that, but since I have no say in the matter, I can see what the Chiefs would not just like, but LOVE about Keion White.

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DrafTek has Keion White ranked #46 overall but he’s moved up 40 places in the last week. CBS Sports has Keion White ranked #57 overall so there si a chance he coudl fal to the Chiefs second round pick. Here are some of Keion White’s Highlights:

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Mazi Smith, DT

Mazi Smith, from Michigan, is 6-foot-3 and weighs 337 lbs.. When I saw that NFL.com has compared him to Dontari Poe, that’s nearly all it took for me to fall in love with this prospect. David Bell and I have been saying for at least the last two offseasons that the Chiefs need to draft a stellar DT to play next to Chris Jones. Anyone who can make Chris Jones a better player is worth inspecting.

DrafTek has Mazi Smith ranked as the #38 best prospect overall so he may not even be there when the Chiefs pick in the second round. CBS Sports has him ranked at #55 and if he falls that far, I’m hoping Veach jumps up to take him. Whereas Derrick Nnadi is 6-foot-1 and weighs 317, he’s never been the DT who plays over the Center type of Defensive Lineman… a lineman the Chiefs need. Mazi provides that kind. of run stuffing ability up the middle of the defense. Here’s Mazi Smith’s Relative Athletic Score:

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Here’s a peek at his highlights. Pretty impressive if you ask me.

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Since I have revealed four of my Man Crusheroos… it’s your turn. Who do you love in this draft!?

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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