Tag: roundup

The 2020 NFL Draft is just five days away, so this will mark our final mock draft roundup.

Draft analysts across the board are preparing to release the final iterations of their mock drafts. Unfortunately, we’re no closer to a consensus position and player for the Kansas City Chiefs than we have been all along.

There are plenty of familiar names heading to the team at pick No. 32 this week all of whom have been sent to the Chiefs in previous mock drafts. General manager Brett Veach did say in his pre-draft press conference that he thought people would be surprised by the players he expects to be available in the late first round. Is it possible that Kansas City takes a player that no one expects?

Here’s a look at some of the latest mock drafts out there and which players are heading to Kansas City in the first round:

Running backs return

After two consecutive weeks with no running backs in the first round, the draftniks are back to their old tricks again. CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso sent D’Andre Swift to Kansas City specifically because of his ability as a receiver. NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks sent J.K. Dobbins to the Chiefs because he believes he’ll be a true RB1 in the NFL. I guess that implies that Damien Williams isn’t a true RB1? Nonetheless, these picks would be much to the dismay of the Chiefs Kingdom.

Is cornerback on the table still?

Brett Veach had some interesting comments during his pre-draft press conference about two cornerbacks who aren’t considered starters. Alex Brown and Antonio Hamilton are players that he expects contributions from in 2020. He even said that he’d hoped to sign Hamilton for longer, but he wanted to bet on himself with a one-year deal. Yes, the Chiefs could look to the future and add a cornerback early, but will the value be there? Players like Trevon Diggs and Noah Igbinoghene are beginning to feel like a reach. At pick No. 32, I’m a little more optimistic about the talent that might be available to the team.

The 2020 NFL draft is less than two weeks away and the mock drafts are getting a bit more interesting.

The needs for the 2020 Kansas City Chiefs have become even clearer following the decision to re-sign CB Bashaud Breeland. That adds some much-needed flexibility in the draft, now that the team doesn’t need to land a starting cornerback.

We’re already seeing analysts stray from the cornerback spot at pick No. 32. We’re still far away from a consensus at position and player on a weekly basis. The most popular player sent to the Chiefs in the first round this week Michigan center Cesar Ruiz.

Here’s a look at some of the latest mock drafts out there and which players are heading to Kansas City in the first round:

Player of the week – Michigan C Cesar Ruiz

Both Daniel Jeremiah and Pete Prisco have Ruiz joining Kansas City at pick No. 32. This is the first offensive lineman who has been mocked to the Chiefs by multiple analysts in a single week of our mock draft roundup.

Ruiz is an athletic interior offensive line prospect who moves well in space for a 6-3 300-pounder. He has a good anchor and is a stud in pass protection. He’s only allowed 19 pressures in his last 895 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. While there’s still some room for growth in his game, Ruiz will be just 21 years old during his first NFL season. He’d help solidify the protection for Patrick Mahomes and the ground game in Kansas City for years to come whether he plays guard or center.

Some new names to consider

Our friend Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire sent the Chiefs an interesting option that hasn’t been mocked to Kansas City very often. Alabama edge rusher Terrell Lewis joins the defending Super Bowl champions in Farrar’s latest mock draft. Farrar believes the Chiefs could still add a bookend pass-rusher opposite from Frank Clark.

Another new name to pop up this week was Missouri defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, who was sent to the Chiefs by CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso. The idea behind this move is that Kansas City could be unable to sign Chris Jones to a long term contract extension. That one isn’t quite as fun but he’s definitely a player to consider.

The 2020 NFL draft is rapidly approaching and more mock drafts are being produced by the day.

The league is still in the process of finalizing plans for the draft, but the show will go on. It’s very likely that team officials will be unable to meet at their respective facilities. That means coaches, scouts and general managers will conduct the draft from their own spaces. Chiefs fans could even get another look at Andy Reid’s improvised basement office.

While the logistics of the real draft are being finalized, the needs of the 2020 Kansas City Chiefs are becoming clearer. Writers continue to make new choices for the Super Bowl champions at pick No. 32. If this roundup tells us anything, it’s that we’re still very far away from a consensus at position and player. This week, the most popular position for the Chiefs in the first round seems to be the linebacker spot.

Here’s a look at some of the latest mock drafts out there and which players are heading to Kansas City in the first round:

The flavor of the Week – Linebacker

From week-to-week, the most popular first-round position for the Chiefs seems to be changing. It started off as running back, then it became cornerback for several weeks. This week, linebacker is the flavor of choice for Kansas City at pick No. 32.

Two of the usual suspects, Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray and LSU’s Patrick Queen, made it in there this week. Those two players are almost universally billed as first-round talents in the draft. There are two other players present this week who aren’t as universally praised as first-rounders.

Our friend Eric Eager at Pro Football Focus drafted Colorado LB Davion Taylor in an analytics-based mock draft. Eager cites the need to replace both Anthony Hitchens and Ben Niemann on passing downs, combined with Taylor’s athleticism as reasons for this pick. He claims that Taylor has similar athleticism and compares closer to Isaiah Simmons than anyone cares to admit.

Another unique option sent to the Chiefs is Wisconsin LB Zack Baun. NFL analyst Charles Davis sent Baun to Kansas City because of his blend of coverage and pass-rushing skills. It feels like he still wanted to select a running back here, though.

Even LSU DB Grant Delpit, who was sent to Kansas City by USA TODAY’s Nate Davis, is a player who can play linebacker in sub-packages.

Draftniks are starting to take notice of the Chiefs’ blatant need of a coverage linebacker. It’s also one that Brett Veach is reportedly interested in addressing in the draft. Will this happen as early as the first round? We’ll find out in 20 days.

The 2020 NFL draft is just around the corner and the mock drafts are intensifying.

Now that the first wave of free agency has ended, we’re starting to get a better feel for the draft needs of the 2020 Kansas City Chiefs. Cornerback has been the consensus pick for the Chiefs at No. 32 for a while now. Analysts seem to be struggling to come to a consensus on which player best fits the Chiefs defense.

Here’s a look at some of the latest mock drafts out there and which players are heading to Kansas City in the first round:

An abundance of cornerbacks

I keep hearing about how this isn’t a strong cornerback class, particularly in the first round of the draft. There are six different cornerbacks in this mock draft roundup being sent to the Chiefs. No one selected Alabama CB Trevon Diggs this week, so there are even more options for the Chiefs to consider in the first round.

There seems to be a lack of consensus among draft analysts about the player who bests fits what Kansas City likes at the cornerback position. I’d like to see some folks identify some thresholds for Chiefs corners, apply those and start to narrow things down.

A new option revealed

NFL.com writer Chad Reuter chose a unique option for the Chiefs in the first round. Utah DB Terrell Burgess is someone who many in the draft community consider a pre-draft riser. This was the first time that I’ve seen him in the first round and the first time I’ve seen mention that he could possibly play nickel corner in the NFL.

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We’re just over a month away from the 2020 NFL draft.

Typically, around this time, you’d be getting a better feel for who analysts believe the Kansas City Chiefs will select. These are unique times in the NFL with the pre-draft process changing course amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Teams have suspended pre-draft activities such as pro days, top-30 visits, workouts and are now using new tools to evaluate draft prospects.

Recently, a new name has emerged as a favorite at pick No. 32 for the Chiefs. Here’s a look at some of the latest mock drafts out there and which players are heading to Kansas City in the first round:

SEC reigns supreme

One common theme this week is that prospects in Southeastern Conference are being sent to the Chiefs on the regular. Of the ten mock drafts on our roundup this week, six of them send a player from the SEC to Kansas City. Some of the best NFL prospects typically come from there, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise.

However, what analysts might subconsciously be channeling here is a connection to the SEC in the Chiefs’ front office. When Brett Veach was with the Eagles he spent a significant amount of time as the SEC scout for the organization. He’s very familiar with the level of competition and if you look at some of the best players he’s found, they either come from the SEC or they’ve done well playing against the SEC. That’s something to keep in mind as the draft approaches.

Auburn’s Noah Igbinoghene the flavor of the week

A new player that has come up frequently in mock drafts is Auburn CB Noah Igbinoghene. Cynthia Frelund, Chris Trapasso and Aaron Wilson each picked him for the Chiefs at No. 32. A lot of people are wondering whether Igbinoghene has done enough to solidify himself as a first-round pick. I’m not certain that Igbinoghene has done enough yet or that he’ll get the opportunity to without pro days, top-30 visits and workouts.

The 5-foot-10 and 198-pound corner is a great athlete and despite being fairly new to the cornerback position has excellent hips and footwork. One thing that could make him extra appealing in Kansas City is his ability as a kick return specialist. I wonder if he wouldn’t be an option for the Chiefs early in the second round if they could find a partner to trade down or trade up.

It’s been a busy few days in the NFL.

Teams have suspended pre-draft activities such as pro days, top-30 visits and workouts over COVID-19 concerns. Players have voted on and since ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, bringing labor peace to the NFL for the next 11 seasons.

As the new league year is on the doorstep, many analysts have begun to alter their approach to mock drafts. Several new options have emerged for the Chiefs in the first round at pick No. 32. Here’s a look at who they’ve sent to Kansas City most recently:

Several new options for Kansas City

There is a whole slew of prospects who haven’t often been selected at No. 32 in our latest roundup.

Jeff Risdon sent LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry to the Chiefs, to add an interior offensive lineman who can work in space and protect Mahomes with equal prowess. He called Cushenberry the “best interior offensive line prospect in the draft class.”

Henry McKenna also chose to add to the offensive side of the ball, sending Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet to Kansas City. He thinks that if Sammy Watkins is cut or traded the Chiefs could add Kmet and employ more alignments with two tight ends on the field.

Bucky Brooks opted for defensive improvements by adding K’Lavon Chaisson. He thinks that adding a speedy edge rusher will help the Chiefs defense preserve leads for Patrick Mahomes and the offense.

I can appreciate that these analysts began thinking outside-the-box for the Chiefs because…

Cornerback and running back prospects still overwhelm mock drafts

Most mock drafts still seem to send a cornerback or running back to Kansas City at pick No. 32. As for a consensus player at both positions, nflmockdraftdatabase.com has listed both Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins and TCU CB Jeff Gladney in their consensus mock draft for the Chiefs over the past two weeks. Names that continue to pop up with more frequency since the 2020 NFL combine include Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor, Clemson CB AJ Terrell and Georgia RB D’Andre Swift.