The NFL’s regular-season for 2020 has come to a conclusion and many teams have turned their attention fully to the 2021 NFL draft. The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t one of those teams as they’re on a bye week and set to play in the divisional round of the playoffs. However, that won’t stop draftnik’s from predicting what Kansas City might do to improve their team in the draft.
ESPN Senior Writer Todd McShay took a crack at predicting all 32 picks in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. He used ESPN’s FPI (Football Power Index) to determine the draft order following the first 18 picks. Chiefs fans will be happy to learn that the team is set to repeat as Super Bowl champions in this prediction.
The problem here is the pick that McShay makes and the reasoning behind it. He takes Clemson CB Derion Kendrick with pick No. 32. Here’s a look at what he had to say about it:
“Should the Chiefs repeat as Super Bowl champions, as FPI predicts, they will again be closing down Day 1 of the draft. They went with offense last year, taking Clyde Edwards-Helaire to jump-start the run game. Rejuvenating the offensive line could an option here, to continue keeping the offense dominant. Another pass-rusher could be a smart play too. But with Bashaud Breeland set to hit the open market, cornerback is going to need another boost. L’Jarius Sneed, a fourth-rounder in 2020, played well this season, but getting a guy like Kendrick would shore up the position even more. He is fluid in transition and has former-wideout hands, hauling in three interceptions over two years since making the conversion to defensive back.”
I don’t disagree with McShay’s evaluation of Kendrick, though, I’m not sure he’s a first-round cornerback. Evaluators will certainly do a double-take after Ohio State WR Chris Olave took Kendrick to school in the Sugar Bowl. McShay’s first two thoughts here were spot on even, but what he seemed to settle for makes little to no sense for Kansas City.
First, let’s set the record straight with rookie CB L’Jarius Sneed. He has the third-lowest passer rating allowed in the league next to Xavien Howard and Bryce Callahan. Make no mistake here, the Chiefs landed the best rookie cornerback in the 2020 NFL draft in the fourth round last year.
I take issue with the summation of the cornerback situation in Kansas City as a whole from McShay too. Yes, Bashaud Breeland is set to be a free agent, but what’s to say he won’t take another one-year deal? We’re talking about a player that has openly stated he wants to earn a big contract. With that in mind, we saw what his market was like this past year. Now he’s entering a free agency year with a low salary-cap. There’s no telling what happens with him this year.
Even if Breeland does leave, the Chiefs have options. Rashad Fenton (another late-round stud) and BoPete Keyes (a promising rookie) are under contract. Charvarius Ward will be a restricted free agent, who can be retained on the cheap. Then there’s whatever becomes of the DeAndre Baker situation.
So why should Brett Veach potentially reach for a cornerback at the end of the first round? He’s already proven in the past two years that he can find secondary talent to fit this scheme later in the draft. Fans have clamored for a first-round cornerback since the team traded Marcus Peters away following the 2017 NFL season, but Veach has proven that he can build a winning team without one.
McShay should have doubled-back to those first few thoughts here. Kansas City could use help in the trenches on both sides of the ball. If there aren’t any adequate players at those positions for pick No. 32, Veach should grab the best weapon available for the offense and keep that unit as dominant as ever.
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