The Kansas City Chiefs have a few needs that need to be filled in preparation for the most difficult thing to do in the sporting world, repeat as Super Bowl champions. While free agency looms, the Chiefs could be active in the linebacker market with players like Christian Kirksey, Alec Ogletree, and Tahir Whitehead becoming available.
While drafting a linebacker has been popular for the Chiefs among NFL mock drafts, the LB class isn’t deep in 2020 and even if the Chiefs take someone in the first round it could be considered a reach. Kansas City will take a hit to their roster in free agency. They could even be losing Chris Jones, which will sting for a while. Perhaps Jones will be a part of a trade that improves the Chiefs’ draft capital or even brings in some pieces to fill multiple holes.
The offense has been the primary reason for recent success in Kansas City, so you may cock your head a bit at some of these selections. But let’s face it, have we ever seen a mock draft that is universally praised? While the biggest need for the team is checked off with their first-round pick, where could the Chiefs go with their other four selections?
Round 1, Pick 32 – Ohio State CB Damon Arnette
The cornerback position has emerged as the universal top need for the Chiefs this offseason. Quite a few different names have been linked at pick No. 32 but Ohio State’s Damon Arnette gets the nod. Arnette is flying under the radar, as it seems not very many are too familiar with him yet. Most of his skeptics point to the amount of talent around him on the Buckeye defense for their reasoning. It is true, he played with two potential top-five draft choices in fellow CB Jeff Okudah and edge rusher Chase Young but Arnette clearly held his own when you cut on the tape.
Opposing teams were well aware of Okudah so they would try and throw Arnette’s way a bit more. Arnette rarely allowed a big play and defends passes with tenacity and grit. He is physical from the line of scrimmage until the ball is batted away. He tallied eight pass deflections in 2019 and took his lone interception back 96 yards for a touchdown.
He is also consistent in run support and repeatedly showed his willingness to break away from coverage to take down the ball carrier. He measures very similarly to Marcus Peters but plays with a little more backbone. I don’t recall seeing any “business decisions” from Arnette. If the Chiefs do take him with the final pick of the first round, I believe they have one of the most reliable corner prospects in the draft.