Four Days, so I decided on Four Questions
I was pondering the various categories in the draft, which brought questions to my mind.
Question One: Considering Laddie’s Bump Process, Are enough QB’s going to be drafted in round one to have much effect?
Answer: This QB class is relatively thin. I can see three potential round one QBs. I doubt there will be four unless an NFL team is entirely desperate. Only Three QBs rate as a round one selection, and according to CBS ranking, only two are rated for round one. I list four QBs below. Are these enough players selected to have a “Bump Down Effect”? Yes. But not like prior years when four-to-six QBs were selected.
23 Malik Willis Jr QB(Liberty) –6’1″ 219)
30 Kenny Pickett Sr QB(Pittsburgh) — 6’3″ 217
33 Matt Corral Jr QB(Ole Miss) — 6’2″ 212
47 Sam Howell Jr QB (UNC) — 6’1″ – 218
I think I would be considered to be experiencing dementia to think that Four QBs would be selected, but GMs are a crazy bunch. I believe three QBs may be taken in round one. Even the idea that three may be taken is a reach. It would depend upon how desperate a GM is to find a QB in this draft. I do not have high regard for this QB draft class. I am relieved to move on to question two.
*A caveat to the QB bump down would be that enough DEs and WRs are drafted in round one to achieve the same result.
Question Two: How Many Receivers will be drafted in Round One?
Answer: There is a clear view of top-ranked WRs on every Site’s draft board. The Consensus would be:
| 7 | Garrett Wilson | Ohio St. | Jr | WR | 1 | 6-0 | 183 | ||
| 11 | Jameson Williams | Alabama | Jr | WR | 2 | 6-2 | 179 | ||
| 12 | Drake London | USC | Jr | WR | 3 | 6-4 | 219 | ||
| 15 | Treylon Burks | Arkansas | Jr | WR | 4 | 6-2 | 225 | ||
| 29 | Chris Olave | Ohio St. | Sr | WR | 5 | 6-0 | 187 |
Beyond the top 5 are many WRs with differing skill sets that make the draft truly deep for WRs. Here is the second tier(some might even move up into a round one selection):
| 34 | George Pickens | Georgia | Jr | WR | 6 | 6-3 | 195 | ||
| 42 | Jahan Dotson | Penn St. | Sr | WR | 7 | 5-11 | 178 | ||
| 48 | Christian Watson | N. Dakota St. | Sr | WR | 8 | 6-4 | 208 | ||
| 52 | Skyy Moore | W. Michigan | Soph | WR | 9 | 5-10 | 195 | ||
| 78 | Khalil Shakir | Boise St. | Sr | WR | 10 | 6-0 | 196 | ||
| 80 | John Metchie III | Alabama | Jr | WR | 11 | 5-11 | 187 | ||
| 90 | Calvin Austin III | Memphis | Jr | WR | 12 | 5-8 | 170 | ||
| 91 | Jalen Tolbert | South Alabama | Jr | WR | 13 | 6-1 | 194 | ||
| 102 | Wan’Dale Robinson | Kentucky | Jr | WR | 14 | 5-8 | 178 | ||
| 117 | Justyn Ross | Clemson | Jr | WR | 15 | 6-4 | 205 |
From List two, I have several targets on my board, depending upon what happens in round one. The receivers in the second group are all on my board, too. If you examine the two lists combined, you essentially have 14 WRs that should be considered in rounds 1-3. From the first group, Jameson Williams and Chris Olave are WRs who fit what I think the Chiefs are looking for or who might be within reach of either of the Chief’s first two draft picks. Jameson is likely to fall to a range where Brett Veach would trade up to select him. Olave might last until pick 29. He is probably the readiest to play WR at the NFL level in the draft. Jameson Williams is my choice as a player who has Paylor’s “Juice” Factor. The diminutive Calvin Austin III draft choice is a counter to the Chief’s current “new mold” for WRs. I like what he brings to the table. He moves with marvelous feet at the snap. He puts a single move on and bursts out of his breaks. Austin has great hands and is tough as nails for his size. John Metchie III would be a boon to the receiver room. Austin would add that boost and scoot player to counter the WRs who now have size, weight, and toughness in making contested catches. Metchie would fit that same mold. Nate Taylor of “The Athletic” Nate coined a name for this new mold, calling it a hybrid WR role that had height, bulk, and speed at the same time. created the new hybrid role.
Question Three: Do I believe that the DE Draft class is deep?
Answer: Yes. We must first consider all the players who rated as round one qualifiers. Four Jump right off the paper immediately:
| Rk | Player | School | Year | Pos | Pos Rk | HT | WT | Valid? | my list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aidan Hutchinson | Michigan | Sr | EDGE | 1 | 6-7 | 260 | yes | yes |
| 6 | Kayvon Thibodeaux | Oregon | Soph | EDGE | 2 | 6-4 | 254 | yes | yes |
| 19 | Jermaine Johnson II | Florida St. | Sr | EDGE | 3 | 6-5 | 254 | yes | yes |
| 26 | George Karlaftis | Purdue | Jr | EDGE | 4 | 6-4 | 266 | A reach | no |
The next Grouping
| 40 | Arnold Ebiketie | Penn St. | Sr | EDGE | 5 | 6-2 | 250 | ||
| 44 | David Ojabo | Michigan | Jr | EDGE | 6 | 6-4 | 250 | ||
| 82 | Josh Paschal | Kentucky | Sr | EDGE | 7 | 6-3 | 268 | ||
| 115 | Tyreke Smith | Ohio St. | Sr | EDGE | 8 | 6-3 | 254 | ||
| 140 | DeAngelo Malone | W. Kentucky | Sr | EDGE | 9 | 6-4 | 258 | ||
| 286 | Thomas Booker | Stanford | Sr | EDGE | 10 | 6-3 | 310 |
As things stand, I think group one has three players out of reach for Brett Veach. They are all three likely top-10 draft picks(Karlaftis is on my do not draft list).
There is a lot of power among the second group. Ojabo would be at the top of Group One were it not for his Pro Day injury. However, I believe he will still be drafted in round one. In this list is DeAngelo Malone, who I think is the real sleeper in this draft. As you can see from the two groupings, the Sweet spot in the draft is late round one through the Chief’s picks at 50 and 62. Presume that I am right about Karlaftis and Enagbar(not listed above), then hopefully, other teams will select them in front of where the Chiefs are making their selection. Also not listed is Boye Mafe, whom I would rank in the 30-40 range. He and Enagbar are both on the 34-OLBs. I cannot help but rate Mafe as “Near-Nuff” to round one to select him with pick 30. Or, if he is the target, Bret Veach could even trade out of one of the first two picks and add a third-round pick while garnering an early second-round selection to choose Mafe or any other DE that meets the criteria. But the above tables demonstrate why I believe this is a deep draft for DEs, especially when you consider two players who qualify are not in either list. By the way, I have eliminated Karlaftis as fitting the Chiefs, and I believe the same thing about Enagbar.
Question Four: Who are the Chief’s targets for DT?
Answer: I have written about the IDL several times in recent articles. My top two choices are Jordan Davis(GA) and Davonte Wyatt(GA), followed by Logan Hall(UoH), DeMarvin Leal(Tx A&M), Phidarian Mathis(Alabama), Travis Jones(Uconn), and Perrion Winfrey(OU). I will leave it there. Anyone the Chiefs would add from this list of players would bring value to the DL. The Funny thing about the IDL role is that several of these players will add to the pass-rush effort. Jordan Davis is known for his run-stopping, but his film reveals that he can be a pass-rush threat. When I consider Team Needs, DT is more highly rated a need than any other pundit. Author or analyst(Save Maybe Laddie Morse). My point is that adding a capable IDL pocket rusher would be a boon to the front four on passing downs. Players on the roster do fit the depth role. Aside from Chris Jones, the Chiefs need a 3-down DT opposite Chris Jones.
My goal in adding players for the re-tool effort focuses on the DL, including a pass-rush DT. Were I Brett Veach, I would double-dip on DEs and select a 3-down DT. It would mean that I am targeting three DL players in the draft.
Last thought? I would not preclude a trade or signing over the next four days. Brett Veach is known for such surprises.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne