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:
| Player & Position | School | From |
| A.J. Epenesa DL | Iowa | Luke Easterling – Draft Wire |
| Trevon Diggs CB | Alabama | |
| Lloyd Cushenberry OL | LSU | Erik Schlitt – Lions Wire |
| Grant Delpit S | LSU | Nate Davis – USA TODAY |
| Kenneth Murray LB | Oklahoma | Dan Kadar – SB Nation |
| A.J. Terrell CB | Clemson | Cynthia Frelund – NFL.com |
| Zack Baun LB | Wisconsin | Charles Davis – NFL.com |
| Ross Blacklock DL | TCU | Peter Schrager – NFL.com |
| Noah Igbinoghene CB | Auburn | Chris Trapasso – CBS Sports |
| Patrick Queen LB | LSU | Steve Palazzolo – Pro Football Focus |
| Davion Taylor LB | Colorado | Eric Eager – Pro Football Focus |
| A.J. Terrell CB | Clemson | Consensus – nflmockdraftdatabase.com |
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.