Chiefs: With the ____ Pick, in the
1st Round of the 2019 NFL Draft
by Paul Pulley
With the — pick a number — pick in round one, the Kansas City Chiefs select__________? This is one crazy off-season. General Manager Brett Veach has done a pretty good job in plugging holes on the defense.
Team Additions
In free agency, Veach has added an excellent safety in Tyrann Mathieu and in my opinion was the Chiefs single biggest need. He also added a starting quality cornerback in Bashaud Breeland, the position with the least depth. GM Veach addressed the defensive line by signing Alex Okafor and then trading for Emmanuel Ogbah. Both are big heavy power rushers that will upgrade our run defense, an area that definitely needs improvement. Harold Jones-Quartey was signed as a depth DB, and Damien Wilson was added, presumably as our starting SAM linebacker, a position that is most likely a part time gig, depending on how much new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo plays sub-sets.
On the offense, the only additions so far, are FB Anthony Sherman was re-signed and RB Carlos Hyde was added.
Remaining Team Needs
A case can be made that there currently aren’t any holes on the roster, but there is depth needed, especially at cornerback and tight end. A speed/edge rusher is a perceived need, but I’m not sure if that type player will be a requirement in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. It has been noted that Spags is innovative in bringing pressure from different players and positions, in particular the defensive backs, and this is a strength of Mathieu’s. Both Jordan Lucas and Armani Watts have shown some pass rush ability in limited playing time as well.
Contrary to popular belief, I think the Chiefs are mostly satisfied with their linebacker corp, whether Ragland is a fit or not. Hitchens isn’t going anywhere because of his contract and I think both Dorian O’Daniel and Ben Niemann have shown enough to compete for starting minutes. I’m not saying LB depth isn’t needed, I just believe CB and FS are still positions of higher need. The Chiefs are going to see if, scheme, and coaching, can improve the LB group.
How About a Center?
I keep reading and hearing that the Chiefs are thinking offense early in the draft. Of course, that can be a smoke screen, but an interior offensive lineman wouldn’t surprise me, especially a center. Yes, I know Austin Reiter played alright in a reserve role, and was given a two-year extension, but honestly, Reiter was paid backup money. Having the best quarterback in the entire NFL on the team, necessitates having the best offensive line possible in front of him. An improvement at left tackle is also needed. Current LT Eric Fisher gets beaten way too often when facing top edge rushers.
How About a Tight End?
I’m a firm believer that a tight end needs to be taken early in the 2019 draft. With the best TE in the league already on the team, using a first round pick on the position isn’t practical. I’m not a fan of Noah Fant, to me he’s a big WR with bad hands. Fant simply drops way too many balls and we’ve seen enough of that over the years. T.J. Hockenson is very good, but I’m not sure he’s worth a 1st round pick. His hands are excellent, but I think his blocking ability is overstated.
My favorite TE in this class is Josh Oliver, from San Jose St. Oliver has good size at 6-5 and weighing 249. He was the primary target at San Jose St., and played with QB’s that really lacked accuracy. Oliver was constantly adjusting his routes and contorting his body to make catches. I think he could be very good in the Chiefs offense, playing second TE to the league’s best and with the league’s best QB. I don’t think Oliver will still be available late in the 3rd round, so the Chiefs should use one of their 2nd rounders if he is indeed one of their targets.
What really impresses me here about Oliver is his ability to open his hips, keep his feet moving, and not slow down. Of course, the one-handed catch is what many will be attracted to, but don't discount his whole body adapting to the flight of the ball. https://t.co/luRaah9uio
— Ladner Morse (@Laddiemorse) April 6, 2019
A Defensive Tackle?
I think a defensive tackle, especially a 3-tech, is needed for the current defense. This version of the defense looks as if it’s being designed to rush the QB with power from the front four and by bringing pressure up the middle. Chris Jones does an excellent job of this, but Jones played in less than 66% of the defensive snaps last season, and that was up from less than 62% in 2017. That translates to a 3-tech, Jones backup, having well over 400 defensive snaps available to play. In order to rush the passer and to stop the run, we need a quality player at that position. A player such as Christian Wilkins, Jerry Tillery or even Jeffery Simmons, although with Simmons, any production might not manifest itself until later in the season.
So Who Will the Chiefs Draft?
Honestly, the Chiefs could go any direction in this years draft. Conventional wisdom says the defense is where the most help is needed, but after basically the entire 2018 draft and essentially all of the 2019 off-season additions spent on the defense, the Chiefs could be looking at upgrading some offensive positions in this draft. I don’t believe they will draft just offense, but I do think the picks will be more evenly dispersed.
When it all gets boiled down, Head Coach Andy Reid is still an offensive-minded coach, and he will want to keep the offense humming along unchecked. A center is needed. A replacement/upgrade for Fisher is a need. Tight end is a need. Heck, with the exception of quarterback and placekicker, a case can be made that every other position on the team is a position of need. So, with the ______ (blank) pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select_______ (TBD, to be determined).
Paul Pulley — ArrowheadOne
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