Chiefs, No Stone Left Unturned (NSLU): Question & Answer – The Chiefs are Dealing with Free Agency with an eye on the draft. As I see it, Brett Veach solved a major exposure by signing DT Jarran Reed. This player provides flexibility to Steve Spagnuolo’s defense and frees up consideration of what the next move should be. Keep in mind that Veach is not tossing monies willy-nilly just to get bodies on board. This tells me Veach & Co. and Reid with his folks, are working to continue the effort in Free Agency, with a consistently paired framework of both the GM, player acquisition roll and advisement of how next to best improve the Chiefs roster with an “Eye on the Prize.” This is where all of the hours of the day, burning the midnight candle, and waxing philosophically about players, personalities and fit for the Chiefs, will result in a raised tumbler behind closed doors at One Arrowhead Way to cap off the efforts of the day, week, months, and years.
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I have faith that they have a plan and I have faith that Brett Veach will leave No Stone Left Unturned!
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Question: Will Veach Trade Up in this Draft?
Answer: No
I just don’t see that the opportunity to move up is possible. The trade partner possibilities don’t seem likely with the first 15 teams who will make their selections. There probably won’t be a chance of it until the WFT at pick 19. At that point, the players that might be coveted are off the table most likely. The next 10 teams in front of us are the Bears, Colts, Titans, Jets, Steelers, Jaguars, Browns, Ravens, Saints and Packers. Of those teams? I can see the possibility of a trade with the Jets, but they will be looking hard at protecting their QB. From there on? I view any potential trade as highly unlikely due to trade partners, or having to give up an extra draft pick to make such as swap.
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Question: Will the Chiefs Trade Back?
Answer: Far more Likely.
If it’s possible to trade out into the first third of the 2nd round to get another pick. Yes, it’s a possibility and I can see it.
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Questions: Is it necessary to draft a LOT Capable Player With Pick 31?
Answer: No.
Why, when round 2 will bring capable choices? What I think is more likely is that Veach will trade out of round one. I’m not stating here that he must choose an LOT. Let’s presume that Veach has traded out of round one. With the traded-for pick in round two either — plus an added pick later — I do see it as highly likely that two or three players who could easily be earmarked for OT are available still in round 2 and in trading out of Round One, Veach would be getting another second round pick+ and this pick will likely be in the first 10 positions of the round. That has tremendous value for the Chiefs who still have holes to fill.
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Using the OT position as an example:
This draft is a deep draft, perhaps with the notable exception of the Tight Ends, but it’s very possible that one of the following four players would be available, early in round 2: Alex Leatherwood, Jalen Mayfield, Liam Eichenberg, or Teven Jenkins. If this fits, and you could get Leatherwood or Eichenberg, all is well. They are plug and play for the LOT position. There are others as well. Any one of the four would be a quality selection for round 2. The players all would be great fits for the Chiefs persona including their love of the game. But again, I am not stating that such a pick should be made.
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There are all sorts of scenarios to think about. If we had to start a rookie at one of the starting positions, and considering that OT is the weakness, then the worry about the OL revolves around the LOT role. Nick Jacobs presented a view which placed Martinas Rankin on the left with Niang on the right in the #2 role. The starter would be Kyle Long, who moves to the right as the starting OT. My own presentation is to ensure the ROT is handled, and Martinas Rankin fits the bill. I would start Niang on the left though his native position is the right. That disturbs some. Preferable to this would be to sign a Free Agent who has started at the position. Names bandied about have been Alejandro Villanueva and Russell Okung. Brett Veach made a hard run to obtain the services of Trent WIlliams who re-signed with the 49’ers. Both Villanueva and Okung are 33. We can’t know if either player would accept an offer from KC — but we can see either as a “Bridge” solution, to get the next Chiefs OT trained up to take over. In Nick’s case, it would be Rankin. I favor Niang. Laddie has presented me with a concept of a “Bridge Offensive Line,” an idea which is as intriguing as all get out because, in reality it is possible that existing players could be positioned to start the season, awaiting a draft pick, for example, who could be made ready to eventually take over.
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Question: Is Drafting an OC a high likelihood in R1 or R2?
Answer: No.
The Center position is now manned and planned. However, the Chiefs could draft a Center they really liked if that player fell to them. Laddie and were exchanging about Centers in this draft. Obviously, they have their targets and potential round to draft them. The players both Laddie and I nominate for high consideration are Landon Dickerson (Alabama) and Creed Humphrey (Oklahoma). What you come up with in these two players would be players whose love for the game is evidence. Both players bring solid play, preparation and aggressiveness for the position to the table and fit the Chiefs personality as well.
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The Chiefs signed a starting quality Free Agent, former Rams Center, Austin Blythe. I think that the Chiefs internal plan is to have Nick Allegretti move to Center and compete with Blythe for the starting role. Though I would love to have either of the two players just identified, they will not be selected, in my mind for round two, as I have laid out the idea of the Chiefs trading back and having two picks in round two. It’s possible if the right player is available in round three, the Chiefs could then draft a center.
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Will the Chiefs draft a WR in rounds 1-3?
Answer: Yes!
It’s highly likely that the Chiefs draft a WR. Why? The departure of Sammy Watkins made such a choice probably, especially since they went after WR’s in Free Agency and found no takers. The player needed is a Sammy Watkins replacement. It’s likely to be a draft choice now. Further, the Chiefs have two top speedsters and one of them has fallen out of favor: Mecole Hardman. He would be a good value for a trade partner that needs that type of over the top WR but the Chiefs don’t need a WR#1 and WR#1A. I think Hardman was too hard-headed and ran routes and broke off of them confusing Mahomes. Better he goes to a team that wants a speed demon for down field and better for the player as well as the Chiefs. If Brett Veach can trade Hardman… if at all possible… that trade should yield a round 3 draft pick. In which case, and in this scenario, the Chiefs have: 2 second, 2 third, and 2 fourth and fifth round picks as well.
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Please don’t see my comments as being anti-Hardman. I am not. He brings a ton of value to the Chiefs. However, he needs to adjust what he is doing, fulfill the role of the “X” receiver to truly fit as the Chiefs most needed WR. I do not think either Byron Pringle nor Demarcus Robinson is that man either.
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There are ton of WR’s available in this draft who could well fit the possession role for K.C. and those WR’s are deep enough to be available in round four.
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Will Veach draft a linebacker?
Answer: Absolutely.
Whether or not you see it, Anthony Hitchens is an exposure in pass coverage, man-up for a crosser or a RB out of the backfield. Hitch is not a true throwback LB either. In 2020, his reads, pursuit and hitting the right gap improved. Apparently nothing can be coached into him for pass coverage. What the Chiefs need on passing downs is a player fast enough to play sideline-to-sideline and who will excel in pass coverage while hitting the gaps on running plays. The draft is replete with LB’s who fit. That player needs to be trained up while Anthony is on board. I am not demeaning Hitch as the field commander, but he is costly with the weakness he has and replacing him in 2022 requires a draft pick this year. I see a LB selected by round 3. In the final analysis, that player could be the third linebacker in a basic 4-3 defense, gain a lot of experience as Gay did in 2020, and then we go from there.
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Are the Chiefs looking into drafting a Cornerback?
Answer: Yes.
One of the first prospects the Chiefs visited with in 2021 was CB Greg Newsome, out of Northwestern. I like Newsome a lot though he is rated as a round one pick. Another player I like a lot is CB Elijah Molden from Washington. Molden is down the chart from Newsome, but probably a second round selection with the skills needed for the Chiefs. Both can play inside or outside. After the first three rounds, K.C. would have, several quality CB’s to choose. Why? We don’t know in today’s world, whether or not they will re-sign one of their own Free Agent Corners –> Bashaud Breeland, who’s been a starter for the past two seasons. Antonio Hamilton is also a Free Agent. Deandre Baker was injured in 2020 and his status, recovery and rehab isn’t known. While I like what I did see from Baker and believe that he’ll be a success in the NFL, that leaves 3 players from the 2020 roster not present. I think CB has moved up the list of Needs, while the DL and OG are moving down. At the same time, the later CBs are less proven in capabilities.
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Will the Chiefs draft a Safety?
Answer: Yes.
It’s true that the Chiefs have top players for the role of safety. Tyrann Mathieu, Juan Thornhill and Armani Watts give the Chiefs three players at the top of the defense and they have re-signed Daniel Sorensen. Two years ago, ArrowheadOne had an article on Watts, titled Armani Watts is a Hit Machine. Sorensen we know is a great player, within his role assignment, excelling in the box, as a hybrid safety/LB. He is a football intellect and he make plays on the ball, because of his reads. Watts remains a “hit machine,” but there’s a need to bring aboard a pass coverage skill at the position, which is the reason why I believe a Safety will be drafted.
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Final Thoughts
I can’t say that I have absolute answers, but I can connect the dots. Brett Veach said that his target position groups were OL, DL & LB. Part of the DL is addressed by signing DT Jarran Reid. The OL is now deep but the exposure remains at LOT. No LB solution has yet come to fruition in free agency and it is my presumption, that the solution will come in the draft. Sure. There are other positions that will see a player drafted, even a DT or DE, while I don’t see a TE or a RB being taken by K.C..
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Meanwhile, the prognostication fun goes on.
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David Bell – ArrowheadOne — NSLU: No Stone Left Unturned
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