NFL Draft 2015: Final Kansas City Chiefs 7-Round Mock Draft
General manager John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid are entering the 2015 NFL draft with a lot of momentum after a successful run at free agency.
The Chiefs managed to bring back outside linebacker Tamba Hali and defensive end Mike DeVito back for less money, as both are vital to Kansas City's front seven on defense. On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs added some muscle up front by trading for guard Ben Grubbs and picking up guard Paul Fanaika. And of course, the addition of wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was one of the biggest free-agent signings this offseason, helping Kansas City's lackluster receiving corps.
With plenty of needs addressed and 10 draft picks to work with, Dorsey and Reid enter the draft and have the option to be flexible, allowing them to explore plenty of options. With 10 picks, Kansas City is bound to tackle key needs and find a couple of rookie starters to help improve the team for 2015.
Chiefs draft needs
1. Center: With Rodney Hudson gone to Oakland and the Chiefs showing no interest in Stefen Wisniewski, who signed with Jacksonville, the Chiefs need a center in order to have a strong interior offensive line. Cameron Erving could be the favorite for the Chiefs at No. 18.
2. Cornerback depth: The Chiefs can still improve their cornerbacks, but the team has an underrated group with Sean Smith and Phillip Gaines, who had a solid rookie season.
3. Inside linebacker: Derrick Johnson is coming back after missing the season due to an Achilles injury in Week 1, but the Chiefs will want to put another viable defender beside him in the 3-4 defense.
4. No. 2 tight end: Alex Smith loves working with tight ends. Why not give him another weapon behind Travis Kelce? Drafting Maxx Williams would be huge, but the Chiefs have bigger needs to go after in the first round, and Williams should be gone before the end of the first round.
5. No. 2 wide receiver: Unless Reid believes in Jason Avant or Albert Wilson, the Chiefs will search for a receiver early. Dorial Green-Beckham has had his name tied to the Chiefs quite a lot this offseason, but a big-name No. 2 receiver might see little face time in Reid's system, especially with Smith under center.
6. Right tackle: The Chiefs have Donald Stephenson, who started eight games at right tackle in 2014 after serving a four-game suspension, per Pro Football Focus. He has appeared in 18 games as a right tackle, 14 as a left tackle and once as a guard in his three-year career. Jeff Allen is a versatile lineman who should be a candidate for the right tackle spot. If the Chiefs are uncomfortable with both, perhaps they could draft Ereck Flowers 18th overall.
Positions to avoid for the Chiefs
1. Running back: Jamaal Charles, Knile Davis and De'Anthony Thomas are all on the roster. Charles is the primary scatback and one of the best in the league, while Davis and Thomas handle return duties in addition to rotating with Charles or working with him in two-running back sets.
2. Outside linebacker: Even if Justin Houston and the Chiefs don't come to terms, they can use Dee Ford to fill in while he plays opposite of Hali. Houston and Hali are expected to team up with Ford being active in rotations. The Chiefs have enough at this spot.
3. Quarterback: Kansas City could get an upgrade under center over Smith, but it also doesn't want to create a quarterback mirage at Arrowhead Stadium's practice facilities this offseason. The Chiefs tie with the Eagles for most quarterbacks right now with five; they're paying almost $22.14 million on quarterbacks, the second highest in the NFL. Unless Marcus Mariota falls to them, the Chiefs need to focus on give Smith more weapons rather than build depth behind him.
4. Fullback: The Chiefs have arguably the best fullback in the league in Anthony Sherman. The team will pay more attention to other positions.
For the last time this offseason, here is Kansas City's seven-round mock draft.
Round 1, 18th Overall
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Selection: Trade down
Chiefs get: 30th pick (first round), 166th pick (fifth round)
Packers get: 18th pick (first round)
If the Chiefs want Florida State center Cameron Erving or Missouri/Oklahoma wideout Dorial Green-Beckham, they should trade down. With a little bit of luck, the Chiefs could still choose between Erving and Green-Beckham later in the first round.
Dorsey has some close ties with the Green Bay Packers and could pull off a trade with the team he played for for six years and was part of the front office for 21 years. Dorsey and Packers general manager Ted Thompson worked together for eight years and know each other well.
If cornerbacks Trae Waynes and Marcus Peters fall, they would become hot commodities by the time the Chiefs are on the clock. If both cornerbacks happen to go early, Kevin Johnson and maybe Jalen Collins will be high in demand at No. 18.
The Chiefs can strike a deal with the Packers to swap first-round picks. Kansas City earns a late-round pick, while Green Bay can go after a cornerback a bit earlier in the draft.
Round 1, 30th Overall
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Selection: C Cameron Erving, Florida State
Eric Kush entered the 2013 draft as a sixth-round pick and has had little playing time as an NFL player. He played in three games and started one as a rookie. His start came in a Week 17 match in which the Reid benched all 22 of his starters since the team would go into the postseason with a No. 5 seed regardless. Since then, Kush has not taken another snap in the NFL in a regular-season game.
You won't find a prospect at center better than Erving in this year's draft class. As a versatile tackle in college, he is better-suited to play center in the NFL and has the ability to thrive at that spot.
Erving can silence defensive tackles, giving Alex Smith a reliable interior offensive line. Charles usually likes to attack the outside when he carries the ball, but he might go for the middle more than before with Erving, Grubbs and Fanaika in front of him.
Round 2, 17th Pick (49th Overall)
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Selection: CB/S Eric Rowe, Utah
Plenty of good cornerbacks are entering the draft, and some will fall to the second round. With the Chiefs having Sean Smith and Phillip Gaines as the main cornerbacks, Rowe can add to a strong secondary.
He is a physical defender who can also help make plays against the rush, which will help Kansas City's 28th ranked run-stopping defense.
While many cornerbacks have a hard time making the transition from college football to the NFL, Rowe's rookie season will be better than most players at his position thanks to Kansas City's dominant front seven, which always makes playing defense easier for defensive backs.
Depending on whether or not Eric Berry returns, Reid and defensive coordinator Bob Sutton could consider Rowe at safety.
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Round 3, 16th Pick (80th Overall)
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Selection: TE Clive Walford, Miami (Fla.)
Alex Smith loves to use tight ends. We saw that in San Francisco with Vernon Davis. So far in Kansas City, though it was just one season, Smith and Travis Kelce had one of the best quarterback-tight end connections in the league.
Don't be surprised if the Chiefs use one of their two third-round picks on a tight end to help complement Kelce. With Anthony Fasano let go, the Chiefs need to find a player to fill in for him.
Walford can create mismatches against linebackers and even cornerbacks, depending where he lines up. He will be a strong asset in the passing game, but he needs to improve as a blocker and limit his drops.
Round 3, 34th Pick (98th Overall), Compensatory Selection
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Selection: RT Robby Havenstein, Wisconsin
The Chiefs can get a big, physical offensive tackle in Robby Havenstein, who stands 6'7". He is a good edge blocker who played in 55 games during his four years with the Badgers.
He will go through a learning curve as the Chiefs help him adjust to picking up speedy pass-rushers. Luckily, he has teammates like Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and Dee Ford who can give him pointers and challenge him in practice.
Donald Stephenson will likely enter the season as the starting right tackle, with Jeff Allen as a fill-in option.
Round 4, 19th Pick (118th Overall)
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Selection: ILB Ben Heeney, Kansas
Earlier this month, I highlighted Ben Heeney and mentioned how he is sliding under the radar while entering the draft. Different mock drafts have him being taken in different rounds. Surely, a couple of scouts and general managers think highly of him and may take him early before another team can strike first.
With 10, maybe 11 draft picks if the first-round prediction comes true, the Chiefs should use one of the two third-round picks on Heeney. But it is more likely he is taken in the fourth round.
As I mentioned while projecting Rowe in the second round, the Chiefs did poorly against the run. Adding Rowe will help, but drafting Heeney will be even better.
Heeney's size (6'0", 231 lbs) and speed are scary and not something ball-carriers want to go up against. His closing speed on running backs and pass-catchers who pull in a short pass is impressive.
He could be an instant-starter and a pleasant surprise for a non-early draft pick. He'd be the best person to pair up with Derrick Johnson at inside linebacker.
With defensive end Mike DeVito and Johnson returning and Heeney and Rowe, Kansas City will do far better in stopping the run.
Round 5, 30th Pick (166th Overall), from Packers
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Selection: TE Blake Bell, Oklahoma
Blake Bell served as a Tim Tebow and Collin Klein-like quarterback at Oklahoma, entering the game in short-yardage or goal-line situations. He converted to tight end in 2014 and saw some success.
After rushing for 627 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first three years, he caught 16 passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns his senior year.
Bell can be a beneficial player for the Chiefs and could develop into a solid player under Reid's guidance.
Round 5, 36th Pick (172nd Overall), Compensatory Selection
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Selection: WR Vince Mayle, Washington State
Many might be surprised that a wide receiver did not appear in the first four rounds, but I address why wide receiver might not be as big of a need as many may think in this piece. Nonetheless, the Chiefs will take a receiver to add some depth.
With Jeremy Maclin as the main wide receiver with Albert Wilson and Jason Avant behind him, the Chiefs need to add some depth. While they do have Junior Hemingway, he took a step back after an average 2013 season. Vince Mayle can serve the team as an extra wide receiver and a get a few catches as a rookie.
Round 5, 37th Pick (173rd Overall), Compensatory Selection
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Selection: DT Kaleb Eulls, Mississippi
The Chiefs need to pick up Kaleb Eulls, as they do not have depth behind Dontari Poe. In addition, Eulls can learn behind a Pro Bowl nose tackle in Poe.
If he picks up the game well and has to fill in, he can be an asset to Kansas City's powerful front seven.
Round 6, 17th Pick (193rd Overall)
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Selection: WR/KR Jamison Crowder, Duke
The Chiefs are not in desperate need of a return specialist, but you always have to be ready if an injury occurs.
Jamison Crowder can do work on both offense and special teams, increasing his chances of making the 53-man roster or being on the practice squad.
Round 6, 41st Pick (217th Overall), Compensatory Selection
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Selection: G/T Quinton Spain, West Virginia
With his versatility, Quinton Spain can help add depth on an offensive line that is looking to improve its starting lineup and depth.
Zach Fulton got his chance to start right away, although injuries played a role, and was a solid sixth-round player. The Chiefs hope they find similar talent in another sixth-round pick.
Round 7, 16th Pick (223rd Overall)
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Selection: K Justin Manton, Louisiana-Monroe
While Cairo Santos came at a cheaper price than Ryan Succop, he was inconsistent as an undrafted rookie who had limited experience playing football.
Since the Chiefs have plenty of draft picks, it wouldn't hurt if they used their seventh-round pick on Justin Manton to see if he can beat out Santos.
Review
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In 2008 when the Chiefs entered with 13 draft picks and drafted 12 after trading up, they did not draft a quarterback. While Herm Edwards' plan with Brodie Croyle never came to fruition and was a bad one to begin with, he had a wise plan in the draft to recruit players to help the quarterback.
Dorsey should have the same approach in this draft. Give Smith the talent he needs to succeed with and go into OTAs and training camp to help give him familiarity with his new teammates. By the time the season starts, hopefully Smith and the offense will be ready.
With little help at wide receiver and offensive line, we gave Smith plenty of free passes. Now, he has what he needs to succeed to help Kansas City return to the postseason.
2015 Chiefs Mock Draft
Round 1, 18th overall: trade down
Round 1, 30th overall: C Cameron Erving, Florida State
Round 2, 17th pick (49th overall): CB Eric Rowe, Utah State
Round 3, 16th pick (80th overall): TE Clive Walford, Miami (Fla.)
*Round 3, 34th pick (98th overall): RT Robby Havenstein, Wisconsin
Round 4, 19th pick (118th overall): ILB Ben Heeney, Kansas
Round 5, 30th pick (166th overall, from Packers): TE Blake Bell, Oklahoma
*Round 5, 36th pick (172nd overall): WR Vince Mayle, Washington State
*Round 5, 37th pick (173rd overall): DT Kaleb Eulls, Mississippi
Round 6, 17th pick (193rd overall): WR/KR Jamison Crowder, Duke
*Round 6, 41st pick (217th overall): G/T Quinton Spain, West Virginia
Round 7, 16th pick (223rd overall): K Justin Manton, Louisiana-Monroe
*compensatory pick
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