In 5 Kansas City drafts, Coach Andy Reid has helped to secure 4-first round picks. Those selections turned out to be Eric Fisher at OT, OLB Dee Ford, CB Marcus Peters and QB Pat Mahomes. In baseball terms the Chiefs’ war-room has hit an infield single (Fisher), a foul ball (Ford), a home run but just foul (Peters) and a batter-on-deck (Mahomes). KC won’t even be at-bat in the opening stanza of the 2018 draft as that pick was traded to the Bills as part of the picks package for what turned out to be Pat Mahomes in 2017.

The Chiefs will make their 2018 draft selections in this order:

Round 1, traded to Buffalo in the Pat Mahomes move-up of 2017

Round 2, Pick 22 (54)

Round 3, Pick 14 (78)

Round 3, Pick 22 (86)

Round 4, Pick 22 (122)

Round 4, Pick 24 (124)

Round 5, traded to Minnesota to move up in 2017 draft, 4^th round WR Jehu Chesson

Round 6, Pick 22 (196)

Round 7, Pick 15 (233)

Round 7, Pick 25 (243)

Before I get to my follow-up on last month’s KC mock draft, how about a little camp housekeeping? GM Veach has performed the following moves since my last report:

4/16/2018- Kerywnn Williams (RB) signed

4/10/2018- Tim Wright (TE) signed

4/05/2018- George Atkinson (RB) waived

4/03/2018- Robert Golden (DB) signed

3/30/2018- Matt McGloin (QB), Nelson Spruce (WR) signed

 

The Kerwynn Williams inking is a tad puzzling. Williams is a fine support-type back, but I would have thought Coach Reid would want to go with a young back late in the draft or a priority-signing post-draft to bolster the backfield. Another RB may still be forthcoming as there appears to be smoke blowing from the recover of injured RB Spencer Ware. Or, the Chiefs’ personnel gang may be setting the stage for a Ware let-go.

 

Now, tracking back and reviewing the potential selections by the Chiefs in this coming draft, O-line, CB, and OLB are spots that need attention. The D-front needs some TLC as well. After researching the team’s roster environment, the holes that require patching and the college players likely still on the board when KC is on the clock, I came up with the following "mock" draft for the Chiefs:

Round 1, traded to Buffalo in the Pat Mahomes move-up of 2017

Round 2, Pick 22 (54): Duke Dawson, CB, Florida

Considerations: Donta Jackson (LSU), Tony Brown (Alabama), Anthony Averett (Alabama), Carlton Davis (Auburn)

Round 3, Pick 14 (78): Fred Warner, LB, BYU

Considerations: Uchenna Nwosu (USC), a priority IF he is miraculously still on the board, Jerome Baker (Ohio St.), Kemoko Turey (Rutgers), Shaquem Griffin (UCF)

Round 3, Pick 22 (86): Alex Cappa, OT/G, Humboldt St.

Considerations: Joseph Noteboom (TCU)

Round 4, Pick 22 (122): "Foley" Fatukasi, NT, UConn

Considerations: RJ McIntosh (Miami), Kentavius Street (North Carolina St.)

Round 4, Pick 24 (124): Godwin Igwebuike, SS, Northwestern

Considerations: Jessie Bates (Wake Forest), Jordan Whitehead (Pitt)

Round 5, traded to Minnesota to move up in 2017 draft, 4^th round WR Jehu Chesson

Round 6, Pick 22 (196): Cole Madison, OT, Washington St.

Round 7, Pick 15 (233): Peter Kalambayi, LB, Stanford

Round 7, Pick 25 (243): Byron Pringle, WR, Kansas St.

 

We all know Coach Reid loves to add a QB in the later rounds as a development project, and this mock-up here lacks that hobby pick for Big Red. It isn’t likely that Coach would want to add "youth" to the depth with a very "youthful" QB in the driver’s seat this season. Better money should be spent on a veteran presence in the QB room that can put out a fire or two throughout the season should Mahomes struggle. Still, there are a couple of interesting "projects" that might attract Coach Reid and get him knocking on GM Veach’s desk for a late draft grab. Also, not part of my 2018 draft process for Kansas City is a rookie RB. For one, the backfield has suddenly gotten crowded. Kareem Hunt enters just his 2^nd season and should be slated for heavy touches in year 2. Versatile vet Charcandrick West is still in the ranks. Recently Mr. Veach inked toolsy back-ups Damien Williams and Kerwynn Williams and Spencer Ware is still on the mend, but his roster security is tenuous at best. Adding another back is never a bad idea, but the Chiefs seemed to have fortified that position through free agency and there are other holes needing attention this draft. That’s not to say that KC won’t add a project passer or a ball carrier in the process, it just might be immediately after the draft via priority free agent signings.

 

There are a couple of Andy Reid-type QBs in this crop of collegiate passers that will likely be skipped over in the draft process. Nick Stevens of Colorado State was productive when he had the chances to let it rip. He has good size and a fairly strong arm. Connor Jessop, an athletic go-getter out of small school Shepherd is intriguing, as is Kansas State’s Jesse Ertz. Undrafted rushers that probably will be looking to sign quickly once the last pick is in are Grambling State’s Martez Carter, Terry Swanson of Toledo (Kareem Hunt’s old digs) and Ryan Nall, Oregon State.

 

I looked to revamp my mock draft from last month, and to my surprise, I come to the same conclusions with the positions targeted, when they are addressed and the likely players GM Veach and Coach Reid will focus on. If the Chiefs come away with either Uchenna Nwosu or Fred Warner at LB, I’ll be thrilled. Godwin Igwebuike would be terrific in Coach Sutton’s scheme playing either safety position. AS I said before, I usually nail down 1-2 players a year in the KC mock drafts. Time to sit back and watch the draft unfold. A new crop is about to harvest; hope our "farmers" in the front office find good pickins’.

 

John Cooney is a Senior Staff Writer for Fantasy Football Mastermind

 

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