A few things have changed since our first mock draft. We now know that the Chiefs will receive a compensatory pick, and the full order of the 2019 NFL draft. We have the exact numbers for each of the Chiefs picks all the way through the third and final day of the draft.
Additionally the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine has occurred and the NFL is at the cusp of the free agency period with the legal tampering period beginning on Monday. A lot of things are still changing with the Chiefs roster. The additions and subtractions via free agency will certainly influence mock drafts moving forward.
Here are my latest thoughts on what the Chiefs might do.
29th Overall. Clelin Ferrell DE Clemson
I know what you’re thinking. There’s no way that Clelin Ferrell is available at pick No. 29, right? Here’s the thing, Ferrell’s main competition in the first round blew the doors off the 2019 NFL Combine. Ferrell didn’t even compete in several drills, and the ones he did compete in, he put up unimpressive numbers.
Nick Bosa, Brian Burns, Josh Allen, and Montez Sweat should all end up drafted before Ferrell. Some people may even like Rashan Gary over Ferrell. I ran several simulations using The Draft Network mock draft machine, and roughly every three mock drafts Ferrell fell to the Chiefs.
Justin Houston has already been sacrificed for the greater good of the salary cap, and the Chiefs are continuing to listen to offers on Dee Ford under the franchise tag. Either way their top edge guys from 2018 could be gone within the next two seasons. Even with expectations that Breeland Speaks and Tanoh Kpassagnon might turn the corner in the new scheme, you have to be prepared if they don’t. Adding someone in the draft would be wise from a financial and football standpoint, even though it might not be viewed as an immediate need for the Chiefs.
Ferrell may have put up a poor athletic performance compared to his counterparts at the combine, but he’s still a great player. He’s helped his team get to the National Championship game a few seasons in a row and helped them win a title in 2018. He’s got the prototypical size at 6-foot-4 and 264 pounds. His quickness and strength lend itself to operating as a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. His hand usage is among the best I’ve seen from this defensive line group.
Don’t rule out a potential trade up to land a player like this either. Especially if the Chiefs have additional draft capital from a potential Dee Ford trade.
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61st Overall. Juan Thornhill S Virginia
Juan Thornhill had one of the most impressive performances of the safety group at the NFL Scouting Combine. His athleticism was on display during all of the drills. He tied the combine record for the best vertical jump with 44.0 inches. Thornhill got that type of athleticism from his time as a three-time state basketball champion in high school.
Thornhill only has moderate range, but his anticipation makes up for it. It’s not just reading the eyes of the quarterback either, he knows how to anticipate route. Thornhill is also one of the better cover safeties in this draft class. Dropping into a zone in the middle of the field, deep third, and even covering man-to-man. Thornhill has a good feel for all of those responsibilities.
In my opinion Thornhill is the player the Chiefs were hoping they got with Eric Murray when they drafted him. Murray never developed into what fans come to expect of a borderline top-100 draft pick. Murray is also currently a cut candidate for the Chiefs. It’s unclear if Murray has a place on the team as they reshape their defense to fit Steve Spagnuolo.
Adding Thornhill would help the Chiefs infuse some youth into their secondary. Currently the expectation is that the Chiefs will attack a loaded safety class in free agency.
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63rd Overall. Kris Boyd CB Texas
Waiting to the end of the second round to draft a corner is almost unfathomable with the Chiefs’ needs at the position. I tend to think there isn’t much difference between the guys at the top of this class and the middle of the class. Especially after spending some time talking with players at the combine, and watching their workouts.
At the combine, I had the pleasure of talking in-depth with Texas CB Kris Boyd about his history with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. They’ve been competing against each other for a long time, and he’s one of the few guys I’ve been able to track down that has multiple success stories coming against Mahomes. During his game against Mahomes at Texas Tech, he allowed a 1.7 passer rating into his coverage. Boyd was the definition of a lockdown corner.
At the combine Boyd had a very solid workout from the corner group. His 40-yard dash time (4.45) and his broad jump (127 inches) caught my eye in particular. He proved that he’s more than a marginal athlete, and he measured in just under 6 feet and at 201 pounds. So he has some good size.
I don’t want this player floating out there on another team, because his success against Mahomes isn’t a coincidence. Boyd is a competitor and constantly works to improve his game. Instead I want him going up against Mahomes during every practice. Let iron sharpen iron, and these two East Texas born players grow and get better in the NFL together.
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92nd Overall. Tytus Howard OL Alabama State
The journey that Tytus Howard has been on to get to the NFL draft is crazy. Howard played quarterback in high school, he walked on at Alabama State as a tight end, and started his first game at tackle weighing 282 pounds. Now he’s grown into the body of an NFL offensive lineman, but he’s still a bit raw and ripe for molding.
Howard’s background as a former quarterback really informs his ability as an offensive lineman. I feel like if he was drafted by a team like the Chiefs he could be used a true swing lineman, you can start him anywhere from center to the bookends. Tackle is probably where he’s most comfortable right now, because it’s what he’s been playing. At the combine, Howard did tell me that he’d been working on his snapping.
Offensive line might not be the biggest need on the Chiefs’ list, but now that they’ve finally got a franchise quarterback, protecting him remains the most important thing the team does. The Chiefs also have an out year on Eric Fishers contract in 2020, and might be wise to take it. Howard could end up becoming a starting left tackle in just a few years time if the Chiefs plan to move on from Fisher.
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167th Overall. Alexander Mattison RB Boise State
Even before the Carlos Hyde signing, I was a fan of waiting for a running back in this draft class. There are so many interesting guys with unique skill sets that the Chiefs can afford to wait to find the best value in a specific round. If they wait until the fifth round, I like Alexander Mattison out of Boise State.
On one hand Mattison’s 40-time was the third-slowest time of any RB at the Combine. At the same time it was only a few 100ths of a second slower than Kareem Hunt. His broad jump number (127 inches) tied for fourth among running backs, and his bench press number (22) tied for sixth among running backs. His 10-yard split would have been good for third-best at the combine. So he doesn’t have elite long speed, but he does have some incredible short yardage burst.
Turn on any of his tape, and you’ll find some powerful running with Mattison breaking tackles, making defenders miss in space, and the occasional hurdle. He’s a very natural pass-catcher and his physicality lends itself to pass protection. This is exactly the type of skill set the Chiefs could look to add to the backfield on day three. He could be a candidate to stash on the roster, just as Darrel Williams was in 2018.
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201st Overall. Davante Davis CB Texas
Another cornerback from Texas? Two things intrigue me about adding this player. First of all his combine workout is very similar to a guy by the name of Richard Sherman who went undrafted out of Stanford in 2011. They’ve got similar size, length, and athleticism scores. He plays with a similar style to Sherman too. He brings the physicality in coverage, but also uses knowledge and determination to beat his opponent.
The other thing that really intrigues me is the fact that Davis and Boyd, who I took earlier in this mock draft, are extremely close to each other. Boyd revealed to me that they’re probably two of the closest players on the Texas Longhorns team. Having a duo like that come up through college and the NFL together is really intriguing.
Once you get to the sixth-round you take players for a variety of different reasons. It could be athleticism and upside, it could be need, or it could fit on special teams. Veach has said he’s willing to deviate from his standards and habits a bit later in the draft for the right player. Perhaps Davis could be one of those guys.
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214th Overall. Jerome Washington TE Rutgers
I don’t expect Demetrius Harris to be back with the Chiefs. Kansas City fans might not understand it, but Harris is expected to have one of the stronger free agent markets for the tight end group. His age and athleticism, plus playing behind Travis Kelce, has teams intrigued by his ability to actually be a No. 1 tight end.
With that in mind the Chiefs will likely be looking for a new Y tight end. Jerome Washington was a transfer to Rutgers from the University of Miami. He wasn’t invited to attend the NFL combine, so we’ll have to wait for his pro day on March 15th to see just how athletic he is. You might remember him from his crazy catch against Nebraska in 2017 where he pinned the ball between his ankles and his rear end.
Washington is more than that highlight-reel play though. He has as skill set that is worth developing. Even though he didn’t have big production at Rutgers, he’s come a long ways as a receiver. His route running will only get better with NFL coaching, and his hands are already better than Harris in my opinion. He’s stout as an in-line blocker in the run game and will instantly help the Chiefs out in that regard. Though he does need to work on improving as a pass-blocker.
Ultimately this a guy you’d be really happy to get this late in the draft.
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216th Overall. Ulysses Gilbert III LB Akron
Another player who wasn’t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, though he probably should have been. Ulysses Gilbert III is an athletic and productive linebacker out of the University of Akron. This rangy playmaker has the makings of a special teams ace, but the upside to become a contributor within a few years time.
He has the speed to play weakside linebacker in a 4-3, but his size doesn’t rule out the possibility of him becoming a true middle linebacker either. He’ll need some refinement at the next level, but that’s why he’s being drafted at the top of the seventh round. He’ll specifically need to improve covering running backs out of the backfield in man coverage situations.
The Chiefs will like what Gilbert brings to the table as a tackler immediately, and he’d help push some of those bottom of the roster linebackers for a position on the team.
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