Kansas City Chiefs: Full 2016 Draft Guide and Preview

The Kansas City Chiefs hold seven picks for the 2016 NFL draft, which kicks off Thursday night. Within those seven picks, they will be looking for the pieces that could help push them past the divisional round of the playoffs—where they went last season—and into a Super Bowl.

But what are the missing pieces? Should the team target a cornerback or pass-rusher early in the draft? Does the offense need a new playmaker to add a spark? Or, should the team trade down to acquire more picks?

Due a violation of the league's anti-tampering rules, the Chiefs were penalized a third-round pick in the draft. They also lost a sixth-round choice next year. For those who haven't been following, the team filed an appeal of that decision, but that appeal failed, as reported by Adam Teicher of ESPN.com.

Those picks are gone forever. Instead, the team will have to focus on the picks it does have, including two choices in the fifth round.

Here, we will tell you everything else you need to know about the draft and what it means for the Chiefs.

Draft Picks

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Draft Picks

• Round 1, Pick No. 28 overall
• Round 2, Pick No. 59 overall
• Round 4, Pick No. 126 overall
• Round 5, Pick No. 162 overall
• Round 5, Pick No. 165 overall
• Round 6, Pick No. 203 overall
• Round 7, Pick No. 249 overall

As you can see, the gap between picks in the second and fourth rounds could be concerning to general manager John Dorsey. Sixty-six players will be chosen after the Chiefs make their second-round selection and before they come up in the fourth round.

Will that cause Dorsey to make some sort of trade in the first round? Perhaps the Chiefs trade out of the first round entirely in order to get back that third-round choice.

The Chiefs aren't used to drafting this late in the first round. In fact, since 2000, the team has only drafted after No. 20 in the first round six times. In addition, the team hasn't had a first-round pick as late as No. 28 since 1996, when the team drafted safety Jerome Woods out of Memphis. 

Top Needs

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Cornerback

Sean Smith signed with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent during the offseason, leaving the Chiefs with a bit of a hole on one side of the secondary.

Phillip Gaines can help out when called upon, but the team needs a more consistent option on the other side of Marcus Peters.

This is a deep cornerback draft class, so the Chiefs will have to weigh their options. William Jackson III, Eli Apple and Mackensie Alexander are all great options. But will the team draft a different position early and hope to find a gem for the secondary later on?

The Chiefs must address this position in the first three rounds.

Pass-Rusher

Justin Houston is going to miss significant time this season, taking away not only the best pass-rusher on the team but one of the best in the entire league. 

Houston has racked up 40.5 sacks over the course of the last three seasons in just 38 games. That won't be easy to replace.

Still, the Chiefs must try to do that early. Whether it's a defensive end or a pass-rushing linebacker to put on the opposite side of Tamba Hali, this is one of the biggest needs in this draft.

Guard

The Chiefs could stand to fortify their offensive line, and finding another guard would add to a solid unit that includes Eric Fisher, Mitch Morse and Mitchell Schwartz.

Look for the Chiefs to take at least one offensive lineman in this draft, and maybe two.

Wide Receiver

Jeremy Maclin had a great first year in Kansas City after reuniting with Andy Reid. Albert Wilson is emerging as an exciting downfield target, and Travis Kelce is a top pass-catching tight end. Now, the team just needs to find a third option to have one of the best passing attacks in the game.

Veteran wide receiver Rod Streater and last year's third-round pick Chris Conley can help out in a pinch, but they're not the answer. Neither is former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mike Williams, whom the team decided to kick the tires on by signing as a free agent earlier in the week.

The Chiefs should draft another young, athletic player to give the wide receiver corps more depth and quarterback Alex Smith another option.

Top Targets

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Now that we've identified the top positions of need, let's take a look at some of the players who should be at the top of the list in terms of targets for the Chiefs.

Cornerback

Eli Apple, Ohio State: He has as good ball skills and isn't afraid to lower his helmet and lend a hand in run support. Playing at Ohio State, Apple went against solid competition in the Big Ten and helped the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2014. He also intercepted the last pass of Marcus Mariota's college career to seal the victory in that game. 

William Jackson III, Houston: Jackson is quickly rising up draft boards, making it highly questionable that he'll be available at the No. 28 pick. He may have even better ball skills than Apple and is an instinctive, athletic player. 

In a draft that includes Jalen Ramsey and Vernon Hargreaves, Jackson III is still drawing a lot of attention.

Pass-Rusher

Shaq Lawson, Clemson: If he is somehow still on the board at No. 28 overall, the Chiefs almost have to take him. Lawson was instrumental in helping the Clemson Tigers reach the national championship game last year. He would be an excellent choice to help absorb the loss of Houston and is equally adept at stuffing the run as he is at getting after the quarterback. 

Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky: One of the proverbial boom-or-bust players in this draft, Noah Spence can be special if he has put his personal issues behind him. He failed multiple drug tests while at Ohio State and transferred to Eastern Kentucky as a result. Last year, he was arrested for public intoxication. Still, one can argue he could be the best edge-rusher in this draft. If the Chiefs believe he has fully recovered and the team can bring him in and coach him up, having him and Houston together on the field is a scary proposition for opposing teams.

Guard

Christian Westerman, Arizona State: The Chiefs don't need to spend a first-round pick or even a second-round pick on a guard. If the fourth round rolls around and Arizona State's Christian Westerman is still on the board, he'd be a terrific choice. He is both strong and athletic. His 34 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the scouting combine give you an idea of his power. He is quick off the snap and gets to the second level on a regular basis.

Connor McGovern, Missouri: Not to be confused with UFC fighter Conor McGregor, McGovern is another powerful offensive lineman with the ability to push defenders around with ease. He comes from the same school as Morse, so the Chiefs may have paid extra attention to him throughout the process.

Wide Receiver

Michael Thomas, Ohio State: You may have heard Braxton Miller's name mentioned alongside the Chiefs several times now, but his teammate in college, Michael Thomas, is a much more complete wide receiver. At 6'2", Thomas can create mismatches and provide a big target down the field. He has the speed and route-running ability to challenge teams vertically.

Braxton Miller, Ohio State: A former quarterback, Miller still has skills that need to be developed, but he showed at the Senior Bowl and in the combine that he has what it takes to succeed at the next level. Because of his versatile background in college, he could give the Chiefs an added dimension to their offense, forcing defenses to be ready for things the Chiefs haven't normally thrown at them while under Reid.

Latest Rumors

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Team to wait on option regarding Eric Fisher

Though this shouldn't come as a surprise, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that the Chiefs will wait until after the draft to address the fifth-year option on Fisher.

The former No. 1 overall pick played considerably better last season than in each of his previous two years, but this will be a critical season for him.

What are the chances the Chiefs draft a tackle this year? If the right guy is on the board, probably pretty good.

Dorsey says Houston will play in 2016

Though Houston had surgery to repair an ACL injury on February 1, Dorsey says he will play this season, as reported by ESPN.com's Teicher. 

"I'm not a medical expert, but I can tell you Justin Houston will be playing this season. When is a good [question]. Not being a medical expert, I really can't definitively tell you that answer. But our doctors have reassured us that he will play this season," Dorsey said.

That's encouraging news, as the defense won't be as lethal with him off the field. How does that affect the team's draft plans, though? Hali isn't getting any younger, so drafting an elite pass-rusher early should still be a priority, perhaps even the top priority.

Draft trades are a possibility

BJ Kissel of the team's official website notes that Dorsey is open to making some draft-day trades.

The GM said:

"

"If you can acquire additional picks, I think that helps, I think it increases your odds. I'm always for trying to trade back and getting a few picks. I'll try to work it either way, and I think we do a good job of that. I think we have prepared and laid out a plan again like we always do. We've made advanced phone calls right now. We'll continue to make those calls to other teams. We're always open, either way. Come talk to us."

"

The key will be the gap between the second and fourth rounds. The Chiefs may not be content to wait that long between picks. If not, expect a trade to happen that gets the team back into the third round.

7-Round Mock Draft

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Round 1: Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky: We spoke about Spence earlier, and the Chiefs will take a shot at him after Apple, Jackson III and Lawson all go before No. 28. Kansas City will use him as a linebacker in the 3-4 scheme and will reap the rewards of a talented player who will prove to be a changed man.

Round 2: Deiondre' Hall, CB, Northern Iowa: This pick is made after a run on cornerbacks, but just because he comes from a smaller school doesn't make it a bad pick. Hall is 6'1" and is solid as a press-man cornerback. He had six interceptions in 2015. 

Round 4: Geronimo Allison, WR, Illinois: A bit of a sleeper, Geronimo Allison has the tools to become a star. At 6'3", he is quick for his size and has soft hands. He needs to add some muscle to his frame, but the Chiefs could develop this guy into a star. 

Round 5: Connor McGovern, OG, Missouri: Christian Westerman will be gone by this point, but the Chiefs will take a shot on McGovern. His strength would be a huge asset.

Round 5: Kevin Hogan, QB, Kansas City: Kevin Hogan may well be gone by this point, but if he's not, the Chiefs will snag him. Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray have a long way to go to prove they can be backups in the NFL. Hogan could come right in and claim that job. 

Round 6: Matt Hegarty, OG, Oregon: After transferring from Notre Dame, Matt Hegarty became the starting center for Oregon. The Chiefs will add more depth to their offensive line by drafting him here. He'll be able to come in and play guard or center for the team. 

Round 7: Aaron Green, RB, TCU: He's undersized at 5'10", 203 pounds, but Aaron Green averaged 5.2 yards per carry at TCU last season. The Chiefs will bring him in with their last pick of the night, and he might be able to earn a spot as a third-down back at some point down the road.