Chiefs Spinning the Draft Compass:
Where It Will Land · by Paul Pulley
Much, like has happened every year since Andy Reid came to town in 2013, by signing free agents to fill the voids that were apparent during the previous season and also appeared following the previous season due to losses by departing free agents, trades and also retirements, the Chiefs have taken several approaches:
- Some of the voids are filled by free agent signings of top quality players at their respective positions, such as OT Mitchell Schwartz, DL Bennie Logan and LB Anthony Hitchens. Other voids are filled via trade, examples include LB Reggie Ragland and CB Kendall Fuller.
- Other ways to fill vacancies is by signing free agents that haven’t worked out for other teams but the Chiefs believe can reach their potential in Kansas City. Some examples of this type signee would be CB David Amerson, DL Xavier Williams and TE Jace Amaro.
- And we all remember fondly the cost saving signings of players such as Mike McGlynn and Jeff Linkenbach. Players that were able to fill and create holes in the roster at the same time. I guess they can’t all work out.
The reason for filling voids in free agency and with trades is to be able to approach the draft being able to select the best player possible, regardless of position. Now, there has to be a little common sense applied to this philosophy, it would be ridiculous to draft eight players of one position, or as an example, to draft four quarterbacks. The needs of the team has to be taken into consideration, and that can be a complicated matter. Just as all of us, as fans, see the needs differently, I’m sure the coaches do as well. The wide receiver coaches or offensive line coach will believe their position has a greater need than that of the linebacker coaches, etc.
Shortsightedness, looking at the needs of only the upcoming season should be avoided also. Examples of decisions that the front office could be looking at for the upcoming draft are:
- Is Witzmann or Ehinger the answer at left guard, or is that a position we need to address immediately? This would be a good use of a mid round selection.
- Mitch Morse is in the final year of his rookie contract, is he a player that we want to extend or one that needs to be replaced and do we want to find a replacement this year? Depending on the answer above, I think only one offensive lineman should be drafted this year unless the right guy is available to develop as a late round pick.
- How much longer can we rely on Justin Houston? Then we have the ever popular (not necessarily good popular) Dee Ford, what do we do with him? With very little depth at OLB, if Veach were to trade up in this years draft, outside linebacker might be the target.
- Who is our starting safety next to Eric Berry? Although there are a large number of defensive backs on the current roster, this would be the other position that I would consider trading up for the right player. A rookie paired with Berry’s huge contract would level out the salary disparity of this position group and fill one of the largest needs going into the new season.
- Do we continue to rely on Demetrius Harris as the number two tight end? A football playing tight end for the number two spot would be high on my list of priorities for the upcoming draft.
- With the ever improving Tyreek Hill and the free agent signing of Sammy Watkins, does the wide receiver group need new bodies? We have some solid depth on the team currently so I don’t view this as much of a need, either immediate or long term.
- Last years trade for Reggie Ragland has worked out great and with this years signing of Anthony Hitchens, the starting ILBs are set but depth is the question? Right now we have Ukeme Eligwe and Terrance Smith as backups. A mid-round ILB should be considered.
- We have, a very good, and a serviceable, set of defensive ends, so a pass rushing coupled with run supporting DE is in need? If the right player is available when the Chiefs make a selection, he would have to be in the discussion.
- With Patrick Mahomes as the starting quarterback, the position is set, with Chad Henne as is the backup, the question is, who will be the 3rd string? Head coach Andy Reid likes to go into camp with 4 QBs, so I would expect a late round draft pick to be used here, plus signing a UDFA.
- Eric Fisher is a serviceable left tackle, but is he good enough for the money spent on him? Fisher’s contract has him signed through 2021 and it prevents the Chiefs from making changes this year. That same contract allows an out in 2019, therefore a potential replacement could be sought after in this years draft.
- Nose Tackle, while I believe this position doesn’t have as much value in DC Bob Sutton’s scheme, I will agree the roster is lacking in starting potential, so who will it be? Nose tackle is a position that should be considered in this years draft.
- Trading for Kendall Fuller was a great move, we have Steven Nelson and David Amerson as our starting cornerbacks, so is depth questionable? Even though we have a large number of defensive backs on the roster, if a cornerback that is a good fit for the Chiefs is available to draft at the right spot, he would be hard to pass up. Speaking of David Amerson, he was signed to a one year contract. If he would happen to have a career year, one of the teams that lose a lot and have lots of cap space could throw a ton of money his way. This could make the search for a draft-able CB more important.
The General Manager, Brett Veach, with the assistance of his Scouting department and the coaching staff will need to determine priorities per round and contingencies if their top options are not available. Veach has stated that moving up in the draft is a possibility, and back into the first round is not out of the question. There are probably three players that I would consider trading up for in the upcoming draft.
The first, which would be the biggest reach and take the most to move up and get, would be:
DE, Taven Bryan, 6-4 — 291
Played college ball at Florida and has been compared to J. J. Watt. He ran a 4.98/40 at the combine and posted a time of 4.48 in the shuttle. In 2017 as a Junior, Bryan made 40 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Most draft projections have him as a late teen to mid 20’s selection, so it would take quite a bit of draft capital to trade up that far, but he would provide immediate help in the defensive line rotation.
The second player I would consider wouldn’t be as much of a reach:
OLB, Harold Landry, 6-3 — 252
Played DE at Boston College, Landry would have to make the adjustment to OLB at the nest level. As a junior in 2016, Landry had 22 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and 7 forced fumbles. His production was down last year as he missed games due to an ankle injury. At the combine, Landry posted a 4.64/40, a 4.19 shuttle and a 36” vertical. Posting those numbers, it appears his ankle in just fine. Landry wouldn’t be an immediate starter at OLB but could bring in fresh legs as a pass rusher late in games. Projected as a late 1st to mid 2nd round pick, it’s possible the Chiefs would only have to move up 10-12 spots to make this selection.
The third player might not require a move up at all:
Safety, Ronnie Harrison, 6-2 — 207
Played Safety at Alabama, in 2017 Harrison had 74 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks and 3 interceptions. Harrison didn’t run at the combine and hopefully we will have some results from Alabama’s second pro day on the 28th. Strong against the run, I think Harrison could provide immediate safety help playing next to Eric Berry and he couldn’t ask for a better teammate to learn from. Projected as a late 1st to late 2nd round selection, it’s possible he could still be on the board at pick 54, but it would be best to make a trade up a few spots to insure his selection if he is indeed the target.
Last year the Chiefs traded up aggressively throughout the draft. Those trades landed Mahomes, Hunt, and Chesson – which is an excellent haul IMO.
If Veach likes a player in the draft he won't be afraid trade up to get them.
— Gary McKenzie (@Super_G_Chiefs) March 27, 2018
What do you think? Is there a prospect that you’d be willing to move to select for the Chiefs?
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