The Kansas City Chiefs have a few needs that need to be filled in preparation for the most difficult thing to do in the sporting world, repeat as Super Bowl champions. While free agency looms, the Chiefs could be active in the linebacker market with players like Christian Kirksey, Alec Ogletree, and Tahir Whitehead becoming available.
While drafting a linebacker has been popular for the Chiefs among NFL mock drafts, the LB class isn’t deep in 2020 and even if the Chiefs take someone in the first round it could be considered a reach. Kansas City will take a hit to their roster in free agency. They could even be losing Chris Jones, which will sting for a while. Perhaps Jones will be a part of a trade that improves the Chiefs’ draft capital or even brings in some pieces to fill multiple holes.
The offense has been the primary reason for recent success in Kansas City, so you may cock your head a bit at some of these selections. But let’s face it, have we ever seen a mock draft that is universally praised? While the biggest need for the team is checked off with their first-round pick, where could the Chiefs go with their other four selections?
Round 1, Pick 32 – Ohio State CB Damon Arnette
The cornerback position has emerged as the universal top need for the Chiefs this offseason. Quite a few different names have been linked at pick No. 32 but Ohio State’s Damon Arnette gets the nod. Arnette is flying under the radar, as it seems not very many are too familiar with him yet. Most of his skeptics point to the amount of talent around him on the Buckeye defense for their reasoning. It is true, he played with two potential top-five draft choices in fellow CB Jeff Okudah and edge rusher Chase Young but Arnette clearly held his own when you cut on the tape.
Opposing teams were well aware of Okudah so they would try and throw Arnette’s way a bit more. Arnette rarely allowed a big play and defends passes with tenacity and grit. He is physical from the line of scrimmage until the ball is batted away. He tallied eight pass deflections in 2019 and took his lone interception back 96 yards for a touchdown.
He is also consistent in run support and repeatedly showed his willingness to break away from coverage to take down the ball carrier. He measures very similarly to Marcus Peters but plays with a little more backbone. I don’t recall seeing any “business decisions” from Arnette. If the Chiefs do take him with the final pick of the first round, I believe they have one of the most reliable corner prospects in the draft.
Round 2, Pick 63 – Florida State HB Cam Akers
Damien Williams’ contributions to the Chiefs 2019 Super Bowl season will forever be remembered and appreciated. I hope the Chiefs pick up his option in 2020 but nothing is guaranteed in this league. I have Akers ranked as the second-best back in the NFL Draft behind D’Andre Swift.
Akers did not put up All-American or Heisman-like numbers during his time with Florida State. With such a porous offensive line and lack of talent around him, he was not able to reach his full potential. Many times you’d see him dancing behind the line of scrimmage, creating yards when there shouldn’t have been any.
Akers’ skillset is an ideal fit for the Chiefs offense and how they like to utilize tailbacks. He can catch passes and is a good route runner coming out of the backfield. He has such an all-around game and would never need to come off the field. In other words, there is not a situation where you should be worried to see him lined up next to Mahomes.
Getting him at pick 63 is absolutely possible but it wouldn’t surprise me a bit to see him off the board in the early second round after his NFL Combine performance. There are a good number of early-round half backs in the 2020 draft, so it is tough to predict what order they’ll go in.
Round 3, Pick 96 – Wisconsin IOL Tyler Biadasz
Talk about differing opinions on a prospect, Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz lands all over big boards and nobody seems to be in full agreement on where he’ll be drafted. He had a stellar career with the Wisconsin Badgers but certain things that show up on tape and an injury history have soured quite a few analysts on his hype. In fact, he was not a participant at the NFL Combine due to the injuries he had to his hip and his shoulder.
Can Biadasz put those injuries behind him and return to the level of play that made him a draft darling? Is he worth a late third-round pick when other players who might be more durable are still waiting to hear their name called? I think if the kid can stay healthy, he can be a steal at pick 96, but of course every year there are those players who get the asterisk next to their name.
Regardless, the Chiefs need help in the interior of the offensive line and Biadasz has been instrumental in the Wisconsin rushing attack from his center spot. There are things to fix in his game but production speaks for itself sometimes. He isn’t ready to step in as a day-one starter but with a healthy body and time to adapt, he could become a solid starter for a perennial Super Bowl contender.
Round 4, Pick 138 – Oregon State WR Isaiah Hodgins
This is another under-the-radar prospect who should surprise some people once he steps onto an NFL field. Hodgins was ultra-productive for a program that has been struggling for the past five seasons. After playing for the Beavers in 2017, 2018, and 2019, he has landed toward the top in pretty much every career receiving category they have.
At 6-feet-4 and 210 pounds, he adds a different element to the Chiefs receiving corps that is full of speedsters. Losing Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson would create the opportunity for Mecole Hardman to become the true No. 2 wide receiver behind Tyreek Hill.
While Watkins and Robinson provided big games for the Chiefs at times, they lacked consistency. Hodgins was the epitome of consistency in 2019 while he tied for second in the Pac 12 with 86 receptions and led the conference with 13 touchdown catches. Hodgins’ best attribute has to be his ball skills. He makes every catch look smooth and easy. He looks so natural going up and making a play on a ball in the air that one forgets just how difficult it is to do what he does.
With Hill and Hardman blowing the top off of secondaries, adding Hodgins to provide an additional goal-line weapon would be fun to see.
Round 5, Pick 177 – Arkansas TE Cheyenne O’Grady
Cheyenne, or CJ, O’Grady has so much potential and the Chiefs staff would be great for him. A young man who has a checkered history could thrive being around the foundation the Chiefs have laid plus being mentored from one of the best to ever play the position, Travis Kelce. O’Grady did not finish the season with his Razorback teammates and coaches as he was dismissed from the team in November of 2019.
He has answered questions surrounding that situation by taking responsibility for his actions and explained himself at the NFL combine. He appears to be at least attempting to turn over a new leaf. As for his on-field ability, O’Grady has caught 87 receptions for nearly 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns since 2016. He did that all while never appearing in more than 10 games in a season.
Maturation can cause a marvelous transformation, but only if it is sincere and genuine. Answering questions at a podium or in an interview is one thing but actually staying committed and maintaining the type of work ethic that the NFL demands are a whole other. While Kelce is known for his fun persona, he is one of the hardest-working players in the NFL. That’d be a good type of mentor for O’Grady at the next level.
