Kansas City Chiefs Mock Draft: Final 7-Round Predictions
The Kansas City Chiefs head into the 2015 NFL draft in a much better position than many other teams.
Though they missed the playoffs in 2014 with a 9-7 record, the team is coming off back-to-back winning seasons. Kansas City also defeated both of last year's Super Bowl participants during the regular season.
This suggests that Kansas City is only a piece or two away from legitimate contention. General manager John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid probably feel confident that this roster is already good enough to make a deep run in the postseason.
The Chiefs have a stellar defense (ranked second overall, allowing 17.6 points per game last season) and helped bolster the other side of the football by adding wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in free agency.
The team could use help on both the offensive and the defensive lines and could stand to add depth in the secondary. Adding another top-tier wide receiver to complement Maclin wouldn't hurt either. Overall, though, this is a playoff-caliber roster.
This means the Chiefs are in a god position to take the best player available with their draft picks. Kansas City currently owns 10 picks in total and should be able to walk away from the draft with a wealth of talent. The team should also do so without over-reaching for any particular position.
With all of this in mind, it's time for our final seven-round Chiefs mock draft of 2015.
Round 1 (18th Overall)
1 of 7Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
At least two and as many as five wide receivers will be off the board by the time the Chiefs select at 18th overall. If former Arizona State wideout Jaelen Strong is still sitting there, it makes sense for the team to pull the trigger.
The 6'2, 217-pound pass-catcher plays a physical brand of football that suits the Chiefs. He isn't the fastest guy (ran a 4.44-second 40 at the combine), but he is determined and relentless and attacks the football.
Strong can make an immediate impact because of his ball skills, but he is a little raw and may take some time to develop into a complete receiver.
That said, he has high first-round potential. As Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel recently explained, Strong can make an immediate impact because of his ability to come down with the ball:
"What's beautiful about Jaelen Strong is he doesn't need to be wide open to be open. Throw it up & he'll probably bring it down.
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) April 23, 2015"
This pick makes perfect sense and helps solidify one receiver spot for the next several years.
Round 2 (49th Overall)
2 of 7
Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke
Pro Football Focus ranked current right guard Zach Fulton 64th overall at his position and 72nd in run blocking in 2014. There is clearly room for improvement at the position, and the Chiefs can get it in the second round.
Duke's Laken Tomlinson made a name for himself at the Senior Bowl, which jump-started his rise up draft boards. He isn't likely to wow anyone with his athleticism, but he is a solid all-around guard prospect.
"He was really impressive matching up against true power players at the Senior Bowl. He made Danny Shelton quit on a couple of reps when he couldn't get any push against Tomlinson," one unnamed AFC general manager said of Tomlinson, per NFL.com.
At 6'3" and 323 pounds, Tomlinson is strong and holds a relatively low center of gravity. He doesn't possess the range that some offensive line coaches will want, but he is stout interior run-blocker who can open holes up front.
Round 3 (80th and 98th Overall).
3 of 7
No. 80: Za'Darius Smith, DE, Kentucky
Kansas City ranked just 28th in run defense (127.2 yards per game allowed), which is why it makes sense to strengthen the defensive line.
Kentucky defensive end Za'Darius Smith is a valuable pick for the Chiefs because he has the body (6'4", 274 lbs) to stand up against the run and also brings some pass-rush ability.
Though Smith is not a tremendous athlete, he can contribute right away as a rotational and depth guy. He also has the potential to develop into a starting end early in his career.
No. 98: Senquez Golson, CB, Mississippi
With their second pick in the third round (a compensatory selection), the Chiefs can strengthen the secondary by grabbing Ole Miss cornerback Senquez Golson.
Golson is a bit undersized at 5'9" and 176 pounds, but he is a fiery competitor who produced 16 defended passes and nine interceptions in 2014. He may not start right away because of a lack of man-to-man experience, but the potential to be an eventual star is there.
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Round 4 (118th Overall)
4 of 7
Josue Matias, OG, Florida State
Since the Chiefs offense is so run-oriented (the team ran 100 more run plays than pass plays in 2014), it makes sense to double down at the guard position in this draft.
If Florida State guard Josue Matias is available in Round 4, the Chiefs would be wise to consider taking him.
The 6'5" and 309-pound lineman has experience playing both guard and tackle, which should give the Chiefs a versatile backup at the very least. If he can emerge as a starter, even better.
Kansas City ranked just 19th in run blocking in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus. For a team with an offense built on the running game, that is clearly a problem. Matias has the physical tools to be part of the solution.
Round 5 (172nd and 173rd Overall)
5 of 7
No. 172: Wes Saxton, TE, South Alabama
The Chiefs already have a capable tight end in Travis Kelce, but South Alabama product Wes Saxton makes a lot of sense for the Chiefs if he is available in Round 5.
At 6'3" and 248 pounds, Saxton looks more like an oversized receiver, which isn't exactly a bad thing for a team that lacks downfield playmakers. He ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, which suggests he can be a threat as a pass-catching tight end. However, he produced just 20 receptions for 155 yards this past season.
"You have to go back and watch his 2013 tape. They made changes in 2014 to the offense, and he wasn't the same player. Go watch 2013. That is who he can be in the pros," one NFC scout said of Saxton, per NFL.com. That season, he produced 50 catches and 635 yards.
No. 173: Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Auburn
Grabbing former Auburn running back Cameron Artis-Payne to be a backup also makes sense here, considering how much the Chiefs rely on the running game.
At 6'2" and 212 pounds, Artis-Payne has the build and skill set to be a solid between-the-tackles runner in a support role.
Round 6 (193rd and 217th Overall)
6 of 7
No. 193: Quinton Spain, OG, West Virginia
The Chiefs have more draft picks than legitimate weaknesses on the roster, so attacking those weaknesses repeatedly with late picks should be a theme.
West Virginia lineman Quinton Spain has the potential to provide depth and may develop into an eventual starter.
At 6'4" and 233 pounds, he has the size to compete at the pro level, and he has above-average quickness (he ran a 5.02 40-yard dash at his pro day, per NFL.com) for the position. However, it may take some time for him to develop into a complete pro.
No. 217: Cody Riggs, CB, Notre Dame
Former Florida and Notre Dame cornerback Cody Riggs, on the other hand, is a fairly polished prospect. At just 5'9" and 185 pounds, though, he is another undersized prospect.
Riggs has some experience as a return man (returned 13 punts for 95 yards in 2014), and his ability to provide special teams value is an added bonus.
Round 7 (233rd Overall)
7 of 7
John Timu, ILB, Washington
Former Washington linebacker John Timu is the type of determined, aggressive defender who fits the attitude the Chiefs like to bring to the defense. However, his modest size (6'1", 246 lbs) and quickness make him a complete unknown at the pro level.
The good news is that Timu has shown an ability to thrive as a coverage linebacker (10 passes defended and two interceptions in 2014).
His combination of aggressiveness and vision should allow Timu to make the final roster, especially if he can show the ability to excel on special teams.
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