The draft came and went in a blink of an eye. Time for the Kansas City Chiefs Eye in the Sky Report to take a quick look back at the draft results and then swing focus to a look ahead.

Before the draft Kansas City sported the following draft menu:

Round 1 picks 29, 30

Round 2 picks 18, 30

Round 3 picks 30, 39

Round 4 picks 16, 30

Round 7 pocks 12, 22, 30, 38

The Chiefs possessed 12 picks going into the draft and as I exclaimed last report, "Yeah, no way Coach Reid and GM Veach sit tight with 12 picks, especially 4 in the 7th and no action until then once round 4 is in the books." Mr. Veach and Coach Reid did not disappoint, moving up-n-down via trades. Here’s a rough comparison of what my pre-draft ‘guess’ process projected and the actual picks made by the Chiefs draft team.

My Projection: Daxton Hill, Safety, Michigan

ACTUAL PICK:Trent McDuffie CB Washington

The Chiefs suffered multiple personnel losses in the secondary this off-season. Gone are Tyrann Mathieu, Daniel Sorensen, Mike Hughes and Charvarius Ward. KC signed safety Justin Reid away from the Texans and ex-Bears’ special teams ace/sub-safety Deon Bush but the impact play of Mathieu needs to be replaced. Mr. Veach made the secondary a top priority but chose to fortify the outside first. Trent McDuffie is a terrific addition and has potential lock-down abilities.

My Projection: BoyeMafe, EDGE, Minnesota

ACTUAL PICK:George Karlaftis DE Purdue

It appeared I was on the right track in the first round, just not on the right players specifically. I would have preferred BoyeMafe’s explosive pass-rushing over George Karlaftis. Karlaftis has consistent pro-level tools to man the edge but lacks the dynamic pressure chops to consistently get to the QB. Now, Karlaftis may end of developing into a fine pass-rusher as he compares favorably to veteran DE/Edge defender Ryan Kerrigan. Kerrigan worked hard and turned into a late-blooming QB terrorizer. Karlaftis has that hard-hat mentality to do the same.

Mr. Veach pushed the WR need down a round as I expected, given the great depth of talent at the receiver position this draft. Kansas City’s pass rush needed a jolt of energy after posting the 4^th fewest sacks (31) in the league last season.

My Projection: Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State

ACTUAL PICK: Skyy Moore WR Western Michigan

Neither Khalil Shakir or Skyy Moore are close to being Tyreek Hill, but the way Chiefs’ coach Andy Reid appears to be shaping the 2022 offense, a bevy of very good wideouts is more of a need than 1 great WR and a bunch of ‘guys’. Moore is an elite router, as sure-handed as any receiver in this draft and an outstanding YAC-getter. Moore projects as a prototypical slot-receiver in the NFL and seems to be a redundant addition after the Chiefs signed JuJu Smith-Schuster, a quality slotter himself. Coach Reid is cooking up something new here and Moore is obviously a main ingredient, considering his 2^nd-round cost. Moore blends in with Travis Kelce, Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mecole Hardmanas QB Patrick Mahomesspreads the wealth in 2022.

My projection: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

ACTUAL PICK: Bryan CookSAFCincinnati

Okay, so the safety is filled in the 2^nd round instead of the first as I projected. Cook is a tough-guy DB who arrives at the ball in ill-will. He’s a throwback type and a bit of a surprise here. NFL defenses are opting to use more CB-ish athletes as safeties these days, eschewing the rugged soul-takers patrolling the middle of the secondary. Still, Cook is one of the top-ranked safeties in this draft and he can physically fill the void left by Tyrann Mathieu.

My Projections: Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma

ACTUAL PICK: Leo ChenalLBWisconsin

This is another surprise selection much like the Bryan Cook take. Chena is a throwback type of LB, a down-hill thumper with some pass-rushing abilities. I felt the Chiefs would go for a more athletic, ball-carrier heat-seeker like Asamoah. Chenal may be the 3^rd clue that Coach Spagnuolo is adding a tough-rough edge to the defense. Karlaftis and Cook fit that mold. Nick Bolton and Willie Gay headline the LB starters for KC and the club signed veteran Jermaine Carter away from Carolina, setting Chenal as a potential special teams and reserve LB role.

My projection: Danny Gray, WR, SMU

ACTUAL PICK: Joshua WilliamsCBFayetteville St.

I really liked WR Danny Gray here. Gray was not high on my likes for WR this draft but the more game tape I watched to more Gray grew on me. But in the NFL a defense can never have enough quality CBs and Joshua Williams fits the KC mold. He is long (6’2), skillful and a willing tackler. Not sure Williams is going to make a big contribution as a rookie, buried behind L’Jarius Sneed, newcomer Lonnie Johnson, Rashad Fenton, first rounder Trent McDuffie and veteran DeAndre Baker.

ACTUAL PICK: Darian Kinnard OTKentucky

Any time Coach Reid and O-line coach Andy Heck take in a O-lineman in the draft, Chiefs’ fans must take note. Kinnard had a 3^rd round grade and was stolen in the 5^th by KC’s opportunistic draft room. Kinnard is a 3-year OT starter at Kentucky who many project as a guard going forward. Ah, Coach Reid has other plans it seems as Kinnard slides in as a swing OT who can slide inside at guard. This is an outstanding use of a 5^th rounder.

ROUND 7:

My Projections:D’Marco Jackson, LB, Appalachian State, Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU, Cole Kelley, QB, Southeastern Louisiana, Dontario Drummond, WR, Ole Miss

ACTUAL PICKS:Jaylen WatsonDBWashington St., Isiah PachecoRBRutgers, Nazeeh Johnson SAFMarshall.

Obviously, 7^th round picks mostly project as roster depth, special teamers or quality practice-squadders. Keep an eye on Rutgers rugged and surprisingly swift RB Isiah Pacheco. He’s darn good, better than the grades he’s been saddled with.

So there it is, 7 rounds and 10 picks instead of 12.

OTAs and mini-camps are underway, and we’ll find out what Coach Reid has planned for his 2022 squad. One thing seems quite clear; the passing attack will spread the ball around to a rotation of wideouts, plus TE Travis Kelce, far more than before. The offense will miss the dynamics of Tyreek Hill, but I am quite excited about the wide range of assorted skills of the current WR room, JuJuSmith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman. Josh Gordon is STILL hanging around as is Daurice Fountain, Cornell Powell and Justin Watson.

The backfield has a new look as well. Clyde Edwards-Helaire returns but Darrel Williams does not. Derrick Gorerises up the RB ranks in KC and ex-Bucs dawg-house denizen Ronald Jones arrives. Coach Reid says Jones will get every chance to be a regular contributor and adds a component to the RB room that was lacking, a speedy home-run hitter.

After the draft the Chiefs signed undrafted Kent State QB Dustin Crum. This is not a throw-away addition. Crum was a Combine participant and he quietly showed well.

The Chiefs gave up a 7^th round pick in 2024 for Texans CB/DB Lonnie Johnson. Excellent add-on to the 2022 secondary. Johnson was a 2^nd-round selection of the Texans back in 2019 and has started 19 of 44 games he’s appeared in and had 3 INTs in a part-time role last year for Houston.

Mr. Veach and OT Orlando Brown’s agent continue to work on his contract situation and that should be done soon.

Check back in for my June Eye in the Sky Report as mini-camps rill on and the team’s player plans are revealed more.

End.