Chiefs: Ransom’s 2019 Mock Draft: The Pre-Combine Edition

Chiefs: Ransom’s 2019 Mock Draft:

The Pre-Combine Edition

by Ransom Hawthorne | February 10, 2019

It’s Mock Draft season! While boards will undoubtedly shuffle, after the combine, I wanted to take an early look at the kind of haul we could see, for the Chiefs, this year. While defense certainly needs to be a priority, the depth on offense, in the draft, means the Chiefs could look to bolster both sides of the ball. While an awful defense kept Chiefs out of the Super Bowl, let’s not forget, that a fantastic offense got them to the doorstep. Another all defensive draft might appeal to fans, but I think Chiefs are smart enough, to keep building around Mahomes, as well.

Pick 29 DE Charles Omenihu, Texas 6’6” 275lbs

Omenihu explodes off the line. His length, and strength, make him a hand-full every snap. With pass rushers, it’s all about effort. He’s relentless. Motor never stops running. Ford and Houston play together, at most, one more year. For KC, continuing to add pass rushers is absolutely critical, and their new DC, will make sure they don’t go to waste.

Pick 61 CB Joejuan Williams, Vanderbilt 6’ 2” 208lbs

Physical, sticky, man coverage CB, who has the size to deliver some hits in zone. Williams can be a versatile defender, and a quality #2 CB. He might have some trouble, with smaller WRs, but his ability to lock down bigger wide-outs more than makes up for that. Played really well against some Ole Miss WRs that will go high in the draft. After a couple years of Steven Nelson covering 6’4” receivers, it’ll be nice to have a secondary that doesn’t get “big-boy-ed” so easily.

Pick 63 OT Bobby Evans, Oklahoma 6′5” 299lbs

This pick might be the biggest surprise, but when you think about it, it makes a ton of sense. Eric Fisher has some trade value to him, and Chiefs can move on, without much dead money, in 2020. LT is one of those positions that requires you to either draft high, or draft lower and develop. Evans is a really smart blocker, who deals well with blitzes and stunts. He could stand to add a little more weight, and improve his hand work, but the foundation is there. Super athletic, with long arms to keep pass rushers at bay. Played both sides of the line, so he can work as your Swing Tackle, till he’s refined enough to take Fisher’s job. Chiefs could clear 9.5m in 2020, and 11.5m in 2021, by cutting, or trading Fisher. With several big contract extensions looming, Chiefs need to look at ways to clear cap space. Securing a smart, scheme-fit player, like Evans, is good business, and can help keep Mahomes upright, going forward. While Evans hasn’t played C, he has the athletic profile that Chiefs look for, there, so a move inside, is possible, if he doesn’t work out at OT.

Pick 92 TE Dawson Knox, Ole Miss 6′4” 250lbs

Travis Kelce is an integral part of Chiefs offense. If he goes down, Chiefs have no one to replace him. Knox is a super athletic TE, who’s a bit raw in his development. He’s a solid blocker, and an explosive athlete, but refining his route running is going to take some time. That said, he’s good enough to contribute now, with the upside to be a pro-bowl caliber player, with some development. Shows the ability to track the ball, which is super important, as it tends to be one of those things guys don’t get much better at, over time. Most years Knox would go higher, in the draft, but this TE class is absolutely stacked. Great value pick, even if it he might just be a blocker, to start his career.

Pick 168 Mike LB Joe Giles-Harris, Duke 6‘2” 240lbs

Big physical Mike Linebacker who can get the job done, in the run game. Excellent tackler, and good at working through blocks to get to the ball. Knows the game and makes good reads which helps him in coverage, even though he’s not terribly fast. Not a 3-down guy, but he can offer a boost in the run game right away, and be a quality backup to Hitchens, and eventual replacement, with some seasoning. Level of effort should project him to an impact role, on STs.

Pick 203 SAM LB Wyatt Ray, Boston College 6′3” 250lbs

Ray is a raw player, with some pretty significant upside, as a pass rusher. His biggest weakness, at this point, is his first step. He’s generally one of the last off the line, every snap. Chiefs can mitigate that, while also taking advantage of his athleticism, by playing him at SAM. He has the size, and strength to set the edge, with enough athleticism to cover TEs. His flashes, as a pass rusher, can also make him a dangerous blitzer. Even if he never realizes his full potential, as an edge rusher, Ray’s versatility should serve him well, in a base 4-3. Chiefs may not be running that package a lot, but buying low, on a guy like this, makes a lot of sense. If he can fix his first step, and polish up his pass rush, Ray has the natural talent to be an above average starter.

Pick 215 OG/C Garrett Brumfield, LSU 6′2” 299lbs

Chiefs aren’t gonna pay Mitch Morse. While Austin Reiter is likely your starter there, quality depth is needed. Brumfield isn’t the biggest guy, but he’s super athletic, and a great fit for Chiefs’ ZBS. Most of his experience has been at G, so he’ll have to learn to snap. Despite his size, he’s a really strong guy, and plays with the nastiness you look for, on OL. Technique needs a lot of cleaning up. Really nice player to develop, on the interior, and short stature could prove advantageous, in dealing with some of the smaller, faster, DL, that teams are starting employ.

Pick 218 WR/RB Jalen Hurd, Baylor 6′4” 229lbs

I LOVE guys who can play more than one position, because they make it so much harder for opposing DCs. Hurd is one of those guys. He began his career as an over-sized RB, who reminded me of Alfred Morris. When he transferred from Tennessee, to Baylor, he picked up the WR position. He’s still pretty raw, as a route runner, but he’s got solid hands. Of course, his best work is done after the catch. Hurd weaves through traffic, delivers hits, and falls forward. If he learns to run good routes, he’s a big possession receiver who can be a nightmare, with the ball in his hands. At worst, he’s solid depth at RB, and should play three phases, on STs. I envision a future where DCs pull their hair out, looking at a personnel grouping with Kelce, Knox, and Hurd. Go small, and they can blast you with the run game. Go big, and Chiefs can torch you from an empty set. Versatility kills.

Valuations on players will change a lot after the combine. Chiefs draft targets, will change, based on free agency. That said, I think this draft offers a fairly realistic scenario of what Chiefs could acquire: a couple impact defenders and some great offensive depth. Later in the draft, look for guys with upside, and enough athleticism to contribute on STs. One of the perks, of the 4-3, is that Chiefs should be able to get more out of their LBs. I think you see the bust rate, at that position, finally change, for the Chiefs. This will be the most important draft of Veach’s career. He can’t get caught reaching for need. Chiefs must secure value, and avoid busts, as a Mahomes’ extension, coming in 2020, will limit their ability to retain, and sign players, going forward.

Ransom Hawthorne — ArrowheadOne

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