There’s less than 90 days until the NFL season opener and even fewer days to the beginning of college football season. With football rapidly approaching it’s time to take a way-too-early look at some of our favorite college football players who might be headed to the 2020 NFL draft.
The Chiefs have a first-round pick in 2020, but they could potentially have two picks in the top 50 selections, dependent upon where the 49ers finish in the 2019 season. That’ll make this draft a bit more impactful for the team and exciting for fans, assuming the Chiefs don’t trade away their first round pick again.
Take a look down below to find out which players I’ll be keeping an eye on for the Chiefs.
Virginia CB Bryce Hall
If there’s one position group that fans feels the Chiefs didn’t do a good enough job of addressing during the 2019 offseason it’s cornerback.
Had Bryce Hall declared as an underclassmen in 2019 he would likely have been one of the most coveted corners in the draft. He’s been a starter since his true freshman season, so he’s played in a lot of games already. He also already has the height and weight that makes him a strong candidate to play the outside corner position.
Hall’s interception production wasn’t stellar in 2018, but he was one of the most disruptive cornerbacks in the nation. He had 22 passes broken up which was good for the 2nd most in FBS football. He is a very strong competitor in coverage and does a tremendous job of playing the football. He boasts a smooth transition, great recovery speed and impeccable timing in coverage.
Pairing Hall with his former teammate Juan Thornhill, who the Chiefs drafted in 2019, would be a smart move. They already have chemistry and Thornhill could help bring his former teammate up to speed quickly.
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Illinois RB Reggie Corbin
The 2020 NFL draft has a chance to be a really strong running back class, especially at the top of the draft.
With that in mind, the Chiefs simply haven’t valued the running back position all that highly. They haven’t taken a running back in the first round since Larry Johnson in the 2003 NFL draft. It’s approaching 20 years since the Chiefs have drafted RB in Round 1.
So while I’d love to have a D’Andre Swift or a Travis Etienne on the Chiefs, it’s unlikely that they’ll be looking at some of these guys in the first round of the draft. Luckily there is a ton of depth to this class, and one of the guys I like the most will probably have to wait to hear his name called.
Reggie Corbin burst onto the scene in 2018 for the Fighting Illini, rushing for 1,085 rushing yards. That number is good for the 10th most by a RB in Illinois football history and he did it on a team that only won four games and finished second to last in the Big 10. His 8.48 yard per carry average in 2018 was good for 3rd in the entire FBS.
Corbin stands at 5-10 and just over 200 pounds. His rushing style is unique because he’s elusive, but surprisingly powerful. He’s shown the ability to run between the tackles, but also can be deadly when given space. His catching ability shows promise and is one of the reasons I think he could find success in the Chiefs’ offense.
A strong 2019 season would go a long way in ensuring that Corbin is drafted in the mid rounds of the 2020 NFL draft.
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Oklahoma State WR Tylan Wallace
The Chiefs’ wide receiver group could potentially look entirely different in the 2020 NFL season. The team will have a decision to make on Sammy Watkins’ contract. Both Tyreek Hill and Demarcus Robinson are free agents following the 2019 season. There’s a scenario where all three players are no longer with the Chiefs in 2020.
The 2020 draft class has a chance to be one of the best receiver classes that we’ve seen in a long time if several underclassmen declare. One of those underclassmen is Oklahoma State junior Tylan Wallace. A player like Wallace could go a long way toward reinforcing the Chiefs receiver corp.
Wallace has deep speed to stretch the field vertically and elite ball-tracking skills. Wallace is merely 6-foot and 185 pounds, but you wouldn’t guess that. He plays like a 6-5 receiver that specializes in catching jump balls, with top notch body control and a penchant for winning jump balls.
Wallace finished the 2018 season with 86 receptions for nearly 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns as a true sophomore. Another productive season in 2019 will go a long way in building some solid draft stock for Wallace.
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Northwestern LB Paddy Fisher
Another position that could see some departures in 2020 for the Chiefs is the linebacker group. Three players projected to be in the starting mix are unrestricted free agents and the other has an out year in his contract.
Linebacker hasn’t been the strongest position group for the team since the departure of franchise tackle leader Derrick Johnson. If there isn’t marked improvement from the 2019 group, under new position coach Matt House, look for the Chiefs to target one in the 2020 NFL draft. The Chiefs could look North of Chicago to find a staple at the linebacker position.
Northwestern’s Paddy Fisher brings a dangerous combination of size, speed and instincts at the middle linebacker position. At 6-4 and 245 pounds — when Fisher gets on his horse — he can cover ground extremely quickly. He’s also a strong tackler with 227 career tackles through two seasons. He also has a penchant for defeating blocks with 14 tackles for loss during his career.
Fisher is a true 3-down linebacker, which will get the attention of NFL decision makers. He’s got a good feel for zone drops, and he knows how to get his hands on the football with a pair of interception and some pass breakups throughout his career.
If the Chiefs decide they need a solid presence in the middle of the field who will lock down the position for years to come, they can’t do much better than Fisher.
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