I just went through a draft and asked myself... what's the most realistic draft I can put together?
The Chiefs are effectively done building at IOL, at TE unless they want to add a talent, at LB, and in the secondary. They could all use depth pieces but I like where they are there. It's pretty much (a.) DL and (b.) WR. A piece here or there, like at RB. But I think the Chiefs are able to plug the dam at swing tackle and backup QB.
So what's realistic, assuming one
unrealistic thing: Veach doesn't trade.
Here's what I got.
1. DE Keion White, Georgia Tech
A selection that won't fill our dreams at night, but a perfect Spags pick who should hit the ground running, give you a quality rookie season, and give you a little bit of Pro Bowl upside. This gives you a DE depth chart of Omenihu/Karlaftis/Danna/White. That's a really good rotation, with some Pro Bowl potential, with four guys who can all play DT on passing downs.
2. WR Kayshon Boutte, LSU
I suspect the Chiefs will at least bring Justin Watson back, but aside from that, Boutte is a solid addition at the bottom of Round 2. Boutte will inspire few people, much like the White addition in the 1st, but Boutte was once thought of as 1st round talent, is probably a 3rd round talent now, and he's someone you can slot into an MVS role in a year if it all falls right. The offense needs more speed, and Boutte brings a lot of it in kind of a Chris Conley type role, which this offense has needed since Conley has moved on.
3. WR Nathaniel Dell, Houston
Like I said, the offense needs speed. Dell gives this team some dynamic stop/go that I haven't seen since Dante Hall. This is the first and maybe only pick of the entire draft that will give fans any kind of imagination. He's a gadget guy, and Andy Reid always has to have a gadget guy.
4. DT Keondre Coburn, Texas
I think this is fair value, and the Chiefs are honestly a little behind the 8 ball at defensive tackle. I'm sure there are still a host of cheap veterans they can add after the draft, but they need more stability at the position anyway, rather than relying purely on one-year rentals. Coburn is a stout 2-down run defender and will at least give the Chiefs one guy they know they can count on being on the depth chart for the next three years.
4. DE Isaiah McGuire, Missouri
Another perfect Spags guy. He's got some traits that may give him a ceiling, but honestly I look at McGuire and the only questions I have are fixable. Soon as you get some of this guy's technique down, he's going to be starter-caliber, I feel. He's not a total project to build from the ground up. In one year, the Chiefs will have to make a decision about Mike Danna and Omenihu will suddenly have a $11m cap hit, so McGuire and White fortify a position the Chiefs have been working for multiple years to build up.
5. RB Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
There were bigger, faster RBs than Vaughn, and seeing how I just took Dell in the 3rd, I am leery about taking two small players in the same draft class -- but that should be seen as how much I love Vaughn's tape. This guy is Darren Sproles, all the way down to the Kansas State heritage. He's great receiving out of the backfield, outstanding wiggle in the open field, and a sneaky good running in traditional run sets.
6. S Jay Ward, LSU
Secondary is a sneaky need in the back of the draft for this team, which is surprising given how strong they are at the top 8 spots. But the Chiefs like having four safeties, and Dave Toub needs more special teams aces. All my picks the rest of the way will be (a.) attempts to bolster depth, and (b.) feeding Toub some guys. Part of the reason the Chiefs Teams sucked last year was because Toub didn't have a special teams core.
6. FB Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State
So continues my multiple-year campaign against Andy Reid's insistence to rarely use fullbacks. I think the Chiefs are actually really solid when they run duo concepts and Luepke not only fills a roster spot we literally have nobody at, he gives you a special teams weapon and offers you some juice in the passing game as well.
7. LB Yasir Abdullah, Louisville
7. IOL Juice Scruggs, Penn State
I can't believe Juice is available in the 7th, so I'm taking him despite his limited usefulness on special teams. Abdullah is purely a special teams addition.
==============
QB: Mahomes, Buechele
RB: Pacheco,
Vaughn
FB:
Luepke
WR: Toney, Valdez-Scantling,
Boutte, Moore,
Dell, Watson
TE: Kelce, Gray, Fortson
LT: Taylor, Thuney
LG: Thuney, Allegretti
C: Humprhey,
Scruggs
RG: Smith, Kinnard
RT: Niang, Wanogho
DE: Omenihu,
White,
McGuire
DT: Jones, Wharton
DT: Nnadi,
Coburn, Shelton
DE: Karlaftis, Danna
WLB: Gay, Tranquill,
Abdullah
MLB: Bolton, Tranquill
SLB: Chenal, Cochrane
CB: Sneed, McDuffie, Watson, Williams, Johnson
S: Reid, Edwards, Cook,
Ward
K: Butker
P: Townsend
LS: Winchester
Post-draft, the Chiefs pluck a couple RBs, find a backup QB, maybe sign a passable reserve RT.
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31. Felix Anudike-Uzomah EDGE Kansas State
63. Rashee Rice WR SMU
95. Israel Abanikanda RB Pittsburgh
122. Jonathan Mingo WR Ole Miss
134. Jaxson Kirkland OT Washington
166. Habakkuk Baldonado EDGE Pittsburgh
178. Zacch Pickens DT South Carolina
217. Durell Nchami EDGE Maryland
249. Jerome Carvin OG Tennessee
250. Byron Young DT Alabama
Give me ALL the Nigerians
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