The Complete Kansas City Chiefs Draft Primer
The Kansas City Chiefs have an opportunity to drastically improve their team as they look to add to their franchise. After going 9-7 and falling just short of the playoffs, general manager John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid have worked hard to rebuild the team for 2015.
Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and offensive guards Ben Grubbs and Paul Fanaika are the most significant additions the team made this offseason.
Given that the Chiefs had gone up against plenty of elite quarterbacks and never allowed more than 29 points in a game in all of 2014, the offense must be the primary focus in the draft. The defense still has a little bit of room for improvement, but the offense has far more needs.
Chiefs Draft Picks
1 of 4
Dorsey and Reid have the luxury of having 10 picks in the draft. Thanks to a strong offseason, plus 10 draft picks, the Chiefs can be as flexible as they want in the draft, as they own four draft picks in the top 98.
The Chiefs can tackle plenty of needs and recruit one, possibly two, instant starters as well as players who can be active in rotation, depending on their positions.
In 2008, the Chiefs walked away with 12 draft picks. Tackle Branden Albert (first round), cornerback Brandon Flowers (second round) and running back Jamaal Charles (third round) all made the Pro Bowl at one point during their career with the Chiefs.
With 10 picks in their disposal, the Chiefs have an opportunity to have a similar draft to what they had in 2008. The only difference is that they hope this regime, as well as the key players taken this year, stays for the long term.
2015 Chiefs draft picks
Round 1, 18th overall
Round 2, 17th pick (49th overall)
Round 3, 16th pick (80th overall)
*Round 3, 34th pick (98th overall)
Round 4, 19th pick (118th overall)
*Round 5, 36th pick (172nd overall)
*Round 5, 37th pick (173rd overall)
Round 6, 17th pick (193rd overall)
*Round 6, 41st pick (217th overall)
Round 7, 16th pick (223rd overall)
*compensatory pick
Position Needs
2 of 4
Offense
No. 2 wide receiver
Current No. 2 wide receiver: Albert Wilson or Jason Avant
With Alex Smith under center, Reid runs a different offense than most NFL offenses. No. 2 wide receivers have seen little success, but it could be due to the lack of talent from this position since the new regime came to Kansas City. If the team takes a receiver in the first round, we may see a different quarterback in Smith, as he will have two big threats at wide receiver.
No. 2 tight end
Current No. 2 tight end: Demetrius Harris
Smith loves working with tight ends. Why not give him another weapon behind Travis Kelce? The Chiefs are unlikely to address this position in the first or second round, but with two third-round picks, they might pick up a tight end on Day 2.
In 2009 and 2010, Smith worked closely with tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker in San Francisco. This past year, Smith dished the ball out to Kelce and Anthony Fasano quite a bit and had more success with them than the wideouts. With Fasano let go by the Chiefs, the offense may look to find someone to fill in for Fasano.
Center
Current center: Eric Kush
Rodney Hudson signed with the Oakland Raiders, and the Chiefs showed no interest in Stefen Wisniewski, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chiefs need a center in order to have a strong interior offensive line.
Right tackle
Current right tackle: Donald Stephenson
Donald Stephenson started eight games at right tackle in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus, after serving a four-game suspension. 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.
Defense
Inside linebacker next to Derrick Johnson
Current inside linebacker beside Derrick Johnson: Josh Mauga or James-Michael Johnson
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. But even with Johnson's return, Reid will want more help to improve the 28th-ranked run-stopping defense.
Cornerback depth
Current cornerbacks behind Sean Smith and Phillip Gaines: Jamell Fleming, Sanders Commings and Marcus Cooper
Sean Smith is an underrated cornerback, while Phillip Gaines had a solid rookie season. Besides quarterbacks, cornerbacks have the most challenging transition from college to the NFL. If a rookie cornerback is forced to start or play a lot in Kansas City, he will have the opportunity to play with a strong front seven, which always helps defensive backs do even better.
Potential First-Round Targets
3 of 4
WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri/Oklahoma
Back in January, both ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah projected the Chiefs taking former Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham with the 18th pick.
The local college tie-in makes it more enticing for fans, but aside from that, the pick can help the Chiefs improve drastically after a bad showing from the wide receivers last year.
If Green-Beckham goes to the Chiefs and lines up opposite of Maclin, along with Kelce at tight end, Smith has a chance to prove he can throw deep and take advantage of the talent around him.
Selection probability: Low
Green-Beckham is a deep threat and is a reliable player in the end zone, something the Chiefs did not have last year with their wideouts. However, draft projections have him going outside of the first round. It is possible NFL teams will let him fall, due to his off-the-field events.
TE Maxx Williams, Minnesota
Maxx Williams is a complete package at tight end, proving he is a strong blocker and pass-catcher. Smith has a track record of working well with tight ends, and Jamaal Charles will also benefit from this as Kansas City would add a viable run-blocker in Williams.
Williams is the best tight end in this draft class and is the only one projected to go in the first round.
Selection probability: Low
With Fasano gone and considering how Smith has used tight ends throughout his career, Kelce and Williams teaming up would be a dream scenario. But the Chiefs need help in other areas on offense.
T Ereck Flowers, Miami (Fla.)
Ereck Flowers is a good, balanced blocker. Whether it is in the running game or through the air, Flowers will help improve the offense. Kansas City surrendered 49 sacks in 2014, the seventh-most, and could use Flowers in the pass-blocking department.
He has experience as a starter at both the left and right tackle positions.
Selection probability: High
Stephenson has not been able to come through for the Chiefs, and the offense must do everything it can to get better up front. If Flowers' name is announced, Stephenson will be the backup unless he is let go.
C Cameron Erving, Florida State
Cameron Erving is a versatile blocker who has experience as a tackle, but he is expected to do better at center. He can keep nose tackles away from Smith and can also create holes in the middle for Charles.
Alongside new additions Grubbs and Fanaika, selecting Erving will help give the Chiefs a powerful interior offensive line.
Selection probability: High
Eric Kush has played only three games in his career, all of them coming his rookie year in 2013. Unless Reid and Dorsey believe Kush will successfully fill in for Hudson, Erving would be a smart selection.
ILB Eric Kendricks, UCLA
Johnson is returning, but the defense will want someone else to play beside him in the 3-4 defense. Kansas City has one of the best, possibly the best, front seven in the NFL today, and adding Eric Kendricks will help the Chiefs continue their dominance with their front seven.
They can also use Kendricks, who led the nation in solo tackles last year, to limit opposing running backs.
Selection probability: Low
The Chiefs can pick some bright-eyed interior linebackers later in the draft. For the first round, expect the team to go in another direction.
SS Landon Collins, Alabama
Any defensive player who had the honor of playing at Alabama under Nick Saban will receive high praise from the media and even scouts. Collins was good in coverage, something a lot of teams need in a safety since many offenses are pass-heavy.
Collins registered just four career interceptions, but he could see a change in that total as a Chief. Kansas City's elite pass-rushers can create ill-advised passes, giving the defensive backs plenty of opportunities to snag easy picks.
Selection probability: Low
Collins would improve the safety position, especially if Eric Berry is not cleared to play. But as mentioned during Kendricks' selection possibility, the Chiefs might focus on a different position in the first round.
Projections courtesy of CBS Sports.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
What the Media Predict
4 of 4
NFL.com's seven-round mock draft for the Chiefs by Lance Zierlein and Chad Reuter
Round 1 (18): Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Round 2 (49): Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State
Round 3 (80): Donovan Smith, OT, Penn State
Round 3 (98): Ibraheim Campbell, S, Northwestern
Round 4 (118): Tyeler Davison, DT, Fresno State
Round 5 (172): Nick Boyle, TE, Delaware
Round 5 (173): Arie Kouandjio, G, Alabama
Round 6 (193): Greg Mancz, C, Toledo
Round 6 (217): Ben Heeney, ILB, Kansas
Round 7 (233): David Irving, DT, Iowa State
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller's seven-round mock draft for the Chiefs
Round 1 (18): Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri/Oklahoma
Round 2 (49): Ereck Flowers, T, Miami (Fla.)
Round 3 (80): Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State
Round 3 (98): Jordan Hicks, ILB, Texas
Round 4 (118): Mark Glowinski, G, West Virginia
Round 5 (172): Bobby McCain, CB, Memphis
Round 5 (173): Titus Davis, WR, Central Michigan
Round 6 (193): A.J. Jefferson, FS, UCLA
Round 6 (217): Max Garcia, C, Florida
Round 7 (233): Leon Orr, DL Florida
Fox Sports' Peter Schrager's seven-round mock draft for the Chiefs
Round 1 (18): Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
Round 2 (49): Donovan Smith, OT, Penn State
Round 3 (80): Derron Smith, SS, Fresno State
Round 3 (98): Kurtis Drummond, FS, Michigan State
Round 4 (118): Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon State
Round 5 (172): Titus Davis, WR, Central Michigan
Round 5 (173): Corey Robinson, OT, South Carolina
Round 6 (193): Zach Hodges, LB, Harvard
Round 6 (217): Brandon Bridge, QB, South Alabama
Round 7 (233): Derrick Lott, DT, Chattanooga
Walter Football's seven-round mock draft for the Chiefs
Round 1 (18): Cameron Erving, C, Florida State
Round 2 (49): Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson
Round 3 (80): Justin Hardy, WR, East Carolina
Round 3 (98): Ibraheim Campbell, S, Northwestern
Round 4 (118): Ben Heeney, LB, Kansas
Round 5 (172): Cody Riggs, CB, Notre Dame
Round 5 (173): Brandon Bridge, QB, South Alabama
Round 6 (193): Joey Mbu, NT, Houston
Round 6 (217): Casey Pierce, TE, Kent State
Round 7 (233): Deontay Greenberry, WR, Houston
My seven-round mock draft for the Chiefs
Round 1 (18) overall: trade down
Round 1 (30): Cameron Erving, C, Florida State
Round 2 (49): Eric Rowe, CB, Utah State
Round 3 (80): Clive Walford, TE, Miami (Fla.)
Round 3 (98): Robby Havenstein, RT, Wisconsin
Round 4 (118): Ben Heeney, ILB, Kansas
Round 5 (166 from Packers): Blake Bell, TE, Oklahoma
Round 5 (172): Vince Mayle, WR, Washington State
Round 5 (173): Kaleb Eulls, DT, Mississippi
Round 6 (193): Jamison Crowder, WR/KR Duke
Round 6 (217): Quinton Spain, G/T, West Virginia
Round 7 (223): Justin Manton, K, Louisiana-Monroe
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
