Kansas City Chiefs: Complete 2015 NFL Draft Wrap-Up and Analysis
The Kansas City Chiefs went into the 2015 NFL draft without needing to fill a ton of holes on the roster.
The biggest team needs included help at wide receiver, a starting-caliber center and guard, and some sort of up-front help to improve the Chiefs' 28th-ranked run defense (127.2 yards per game allowed). Other priorities included secondary and linebacker depth and another pass-rusher.
Aside from the run defense, Kansas City did a fairly good job of addressing its major needs.
The team added a couple of cornerbacks, a potential starting center, a pass-catching tight end and a pair of wide receivers. The Chiefs also picked up two linebackers, though neither really brings true pass-rushing ability.
Help in run defense will likely have to come from elsewhere.
The Selections
1 of 6The Chiefs made nine draft choices in total. They originally began the draft with 10 selections but traded away a sixth-round pick to move up in the third round to grab Georgia receiver Chris Conley.
"Vikes just pulled their first trade of the draft. They trade 76th pick to Chiefs in 3rd rd for 80th & 193rd pick....
— Ann Carroll (@VikingsWeekly) May 2, 2015"
The Chiefs also gambled on troubled Washington cornerback Marcus Peters and added guard/center prospect Mitch Morse from Missouri in the second. These three picks addressed needs at wideout, possibly at center and in the secondary.
Fourth-round pick Steven Nelson also addresses the secondary, while seventh-round wideout Da'Ron Brown and fifth-round tight end James O'Shaughnessy should help the passing game.
Linebackers Ramik Wilson and D.J. Alexander both project as depth players and/or special teams contributors early in their careers.
Sixth-round defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches will most likely serve as a backup to nose tackle Dontari Poe.
Best Pick: Chris Conley, WR, Georgia
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The Chiefs addressed one of their biggest needs by snagging former Georgia wide receiver Chris Conley in Round 3.
Conley wasn't ultra-productive in 2014 (657 yards and eight touchdowns), but he tested exceptionally well at the scouting combine and shows up on game film.
The big 6'2", 213-pound pass-catcher ran a blazing 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the combine and added an impressive 45.0" vertical jump and 18 reps on the 225-pound bench press.
This suggests that Conley has the combination of speed, explosiveness and strength needed to excel at the pro level. At the very least, he should serve as a legitimate deep threat and a receiving complement to the recently acquired Jeremy Maclin.
Worst Pick: D.J. Alexander, OLB, Oregon State
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Former Oregon State linebacker D.J. Alexander isn't necessarily a poor choice in and of himself. He does possess adequate quickness (ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash at his pro day) and will likely stick on the roster as a special teamer.
However, Alexander is only 6'2" and 233 pounds and may never be anything more than a special teams ace.
While he produced 70 tackles and 4.0 sacks in 2014, he is currently too small and lacks the physicality of a regular NFL contributor at the linebacker position.
Perhaps the Chiefs have some grand plans in store for Alexander, but as of now, Round 5 feels just too high to draft a special teams cover man.
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What the Experts Are Saying
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Here are some views on the Chiefs' 2015 draft from around the NFL world, along with our take.
"Andy Reid got tremendous value at pick No. 18 and might have landed the top corner in the draft. Given the rough and rowdy division the Chiefs play in, Peters' ability to cover and be physical with receivers will be a nice fit. Morse will probably be a center and can be the final piece along the Chiefs' interior line. Conley was a workout wonder at the combine and will find a nice home on offense and special teams.
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Peters definitely has the potential to be the best corner in this raft. However, he is a risk because he has behavioral issues. He was kicked off Washington's football team for disputes with the coaching staff. Morse and Conley both have the ability to fill even bigger needs.
"The Chiefs drafted mainly for need. Two cornerbacks, two inside linebackers and two wide receivers were among their nine picks and those positions were their greatest needs. Those types of drafts rarely work out. Plus Marcus Peters in the first round is a very risky pick because of his behavioral issues.
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The Chiefs certainly did draft for need in the middle rounds of the draft, but they also got a fair amount of value with guys like Morse and Conley. Peters is a risk, and the linebackers selected in Rounds 4-5 definitely feel like reaches.
"Assuming the Chiefs keep Marcus Peters in line, that pick at No. 18 will be a boon for their defense. Third-round CB Steven Nelson is a quality player, too, especially if the Chiefs use him in the slot. LB Ramik Wilson (No. 118) brings some depth and young talent to a spot lacking in both. And WR Chris Conley has massive upside, though opinions on his overall value varied a bunch. NFL.com had him as a third-round talent; we had him in the fifth.
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Far less people are talking about Nelson than Peters, but he may hold even better value because he brings no real risk to the table. There is no way Conley would have lasted until Round 5, and the Chiefs did what they had to do to secure him.
What's Left to Address?
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Run defense, run defense, run defense.
Pro Bowl nose tackle Dontari Poe is an absolute beast in the middle of the Chiefs defense, but the pieces around him on the front are not nearly as strong when it comes to stopping the run.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Chiefs ranked just 28th overall against the run in 2014. This was a big area of need that the team simply did not address.
If the Chiefs want to improve upon their 9-7 record of a season ago, something with the run defense is going to have to change.
Final Grade
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The Chiefs went for value over need in Round 1, but they did so by bringing in a questionable player.
The picks of Morse and Conley were solid need-fillers, and the second cornerback taken represented another solid value. However, it feels like the team reached for a pair of backup linebackers and a backup nose tackle in the mid-to-late rounds.
While it's true that teams don't always land starters on Day 3 of the draft, it feels a lot like Kansas City simply chased needs down until the O'Shaughnessy pick. That pick, by the way, may wind up providing the most value of any of the Chiefs' selections.
Overall, the team grabbed some value and filled a couple of needs but didn't hit anything out of the park. Failing to add a true run-stopper also hurts.
Final Grade: C+
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