The Kansas City Chiefs have a first round pick again after forfeiting their 2018 first rounder to move up and select Patrick Mahomes in 2017. While Brett Veach gets a ton of credit for the Mahomes pick, this is truly his first time at the reins in the first round of an NFL draft.
Selections at pick No. 29 doesn’t have the strongest history of success over the last decade. Veach will have an exceptionally difficult time finding an impact player at that spot. However, this draft class is regarded as a deep one, and there should be a lot of solid options available for Kansas City.
As pro days finish up and teams begin to finalize draft boards, we’ve got the best idea yet of who might be available for the Chiefs. These aren’t the only options that will be available, and I can’t predict the future, but these are seven of the best and most-realistic options for Kansas City at pick No. 29.
Jaylon Ferguson DE Louisiana Tech
Going off of sheer interest, there’s a high probability the Chiefs are considering Jaylon Ferguson. They met with Ferguson extensively in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. The team had dinner with Ferguson ahead of his pro day at Louisiana Tech and then had a private workout with him after his pro day. He’s also among those that the Chiefs plan to bring to Arrowhead for a top-30 visit. Since I’ve been covering the Chiefs there hasn’t been a single prospect they’ve done more work on than Ferguson.
In general the Chiefs are doing a lot of work on edge players who also have the size to play inside at 3-technique on certain downs. Get familiar with some other guys like Charles Omenihu, LJ Collier, and Zach Allen. They’ve very clearly got a type in this draft class that they’re interested in and looking to add.
Ferguson has the tape and the production as the NCAA’s career sack leader. I’ve also heard that the interview process has really helped him. The only box he doesn’t check is athleticism. He had horrendous scores in the 3-Cone and short shuttle during his pro day. That doesn’t appear to be scaring the Chiefs away though. In another draft class Ferguson might go higher, but this class is loaded to the brim with edge talent. Lot’s of people don’t have Ferguson sniffing the first round after his pro day, but this could well be ‘the guy’ for the Chiefs.
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Garrett Bradbury C NC State
An offensive lineman would probably be the least sexy pick the Chiefs could make in the first round. Let me shout this from the rooftops though,”Protecting Patrick Mahomes is the only thing that matters!”
The Chiefs finally have a franchise quarterback, the last thing you can afford to do if you’re them is cheap out on his protection. Former Chiefs center Mitch Morse is now the highest-paid center in football because he hasn’t surrendered a sack since his rookie season. Austin Reiter was great as a fill in, but do we really think he can hold a candle to that type of performance full time?
Interior offensive lineman rarely go high in the draft, but there always seems to be a center or two that come off the board in the later half of the first round. Bradbury is the top center prospect in the draft, and if he’s available when the Chiefs pick, he’ll be in strong consideration.
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Chauncey Gardner-Johnson S Florida
The Chiefs already added one versatile safety to their secondary when the signed Tyrann Mathieu. If they go for the full-on revamp of the safety group adding another versatile safety might not be a terrible idea. The problem is that position group is already a logjam.
There’s not really consensus top guy in this safety group, some people like Taylor Rapp, others swear by Deionte Thompson. Someone like Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who made big strides in 2018, but had some concerns early in his career won’t get the same love.
Gardner-Johnson can do the dirty work in the box in run defense, plus he has the awareness and range to play the deep safety spot. He even has solid production as a blitzer, and he can probably play the slot or man up on tight ends as well. Adding him to the mix would allow the Chiefs to do some different disguises in the secondary that Steve Spagnuolo will want to utilize.
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Justin Layne CB Michigan State
Justin Layne is a prospect that many of you didn’t know about a month ago. He’s received a lot of hype from the media after a strong combine performance showing off elite athleticism. He’s also got elite size and length which adds to the intrigue.
Layne certainly fits the Chiefs’ new scheme under Steve Spagnuolo that will use a lot of press and man coverage principals. I just worry that he might be too raw to invest such a high draft pick on. The 2018 season was only his second season playing corner.
Because of the hype he’s built, he’s perceived as a riser, and some think he’ll be in consideration late in the first round. This is a really bad year to need a corner and when your best option is an athlete who has only played the position for a few seasons, well you might want to think twice before pulling the trigger.
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Hakeem Butler WR Iowa State
There’s so much smoke around the narrative that NFL teams aren’t very high on Hakeem Butler that I’m starting to think it might be a smokescreen. I can only go on what I’m told though, and it sounds like there is a good chance Butler will be available when the Chiefs come on the clock.
It appears that D.K. Metcalf will be the first receiver off the board. After that it’s a toss up but the belief is that some combination of N’Keal Harry, Kelvin Harmon, and Parris Campbell will be next guys off the board.
Depending on what happens with the Tyreek Hill situation, receiver is either lower on the food chain or a massive need for the Chiefs. I’ve seen comparisons calling Butler the next A.J. Green, Plaxico Burress, or Dez Bryant and I just don’t see those. When I watch Butler I see Terrell Owens. Butler has the physicality to bully over defensive backs and he has the drive to score every time he touches the ball. Give that type of weapon to Patrick Mahomes and you might create something unstoppable.
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Irv Smith Jr. TE Alabama
The Chiefs are doing a lot of work on the tight ends in this class. It’s not just to find depth behind Travis Kelce either. Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce are the same age and Gronkowski just retired. They could be eyeing someone to backup Kelce in the interim, but also develop behind him.
Tight ends aren’t valued highly by the NFL, so it wouldn’t be the craziest thing in the world to see a guy like Irv Smith Jr. available at pick No. 29. When you consider the fact that most media outlets rank Iowa’s Noah Fant and TJ Hockensen above him, it’s even less crazy.
Smith Jr. is about as versatile as they come at the tight end position. He can operate in-line, flexed out wide, or on the wings in the backfield. The Chiefs could certainly use a utility player like that in their offense.
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Trading up / Trading back
Trade up: There aren’t many players in this class worthy of a trade up, but the Chiefs have the ammunition to comfortably get up to pick No. 12 in the first round. It’d cost them 29, 61, and 63 (or a future second round pick) to get there though. I’m not sure it’s worth sacrificing those picks unless someone special falls to that spot.
Trade down: If your main target is gone and someone in the top half of the second round wants to give up some picks, a trade back could be in order. You have to strongly consider it if you’re Kansas City. Throwing more darts in this draft class could certainly result in finding some gems.
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Notable omissions:
DeAndre Baker CB Georgia
There was hype surrounding Baker’s athleticism leading up to the combine and he disappointed. After his interviews at the combine there are now rumors of coachability concerns.
Jachai Polite DE Florida
There are obvious issues here after a brutal combine media session. This is more about Polite’s play-weight though. Polite is on the lower end of what the Chiefs are currently looking for on the edge in terms of weight. He was up to 258 at the combine, but only 242 at Florida.
Nasir Adderley S Delaware
I would love Adderley to the Chiefs, but I’ve been assured that if the Raiders don’t trade back at No. 27 and Adderley is there, he’s their pick.
Jeffrey Simmons DT Mississippi State
The off-field concerns are greater than the injury for the Chiefs here. They’ll stay far away on this one no matter how talented he is.
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