Chiefs five-round mock draft: Utah’s Jaylon Johnson makes perfect sense at pick No. 32
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, which has prompted some countries around the globe to close borders and most U.S. states to enact shelter-in-place environments, has brought most of the sports universe to a screeching halt.
The NFL, however, continues to move forward with a business-as-usual approach to its operations, including the 2020 NFL Draft.
Teams are preparing for the draft with a few modifications. Pro days, pre-draft workouts and pre-draft in-person visits are halted, and player interviews are being conducted via video-conference calls. The draft itself, originally scheduled as a three-day live spectacle in front of thousands of fans, will instead be conducted through conference calls.
None of this has put the brakes on mock draft season.
A disclaimer before we proceed: There’s no science to mock drafts. How reporters and fans view a specific player or positions of need often won’t match an NFL personnel department’s assessments.
Simply put, the beauty of the NFL Draft lies in the eyes of the beholder — in this case, the Chiefs, who currently own five selections.
Here are our five predictions for those picks as the Chiefs look to build on a Super Bowl-winning team.
Round 1 (32nd overall):
CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah
This selection shouldn’t be about filling depth, as the Chiefs need an immediate impact player at corner.
Charvarius Ward returns, but there’s a clear hole left by Kendall Fuller’s departure to Washington during free agency and the fact that Bashaud Breeland remains on the open market.
Enter the 6-foot, 193-pound Johnson, one of the top draft prospects at the cornerback position.
Johnson, who told The Star he had a formal interview with the Chiefs at the February NFL Scouting Combine, shines in press-man coverage and loves one-on-one competition.
“I’ve done well playing inside as well,” Johnson said in Indianapolis. “I’ve covered slot receivers, I’ve covered tight ends. I haven’t played safety or been in the post or anything like that, but I’ve covered a wide variety of receivers.
“I’ve covered the tall ones on the outside, the quick ones on the inside, the bigger receivers that weigh 250 (pounds). I’ve covered every different type of receiver and I have no problem doing it.”
If Johnson, who is generally projected as a first-round pick, is available at this stage of the draft, the Chiefs shouldn’t hesitate.
Round 2 (63rd overall):
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
Yes, Edwards-Helaire is listed at 5-foot-7 and 207 pounds, but forget the “undersized” argument for a minute or two. Focus on this player’s production in arguably the most competitive football conference in college sports — the Southeastern Conference.
As a junior in 2019, Edwards-Helaire rushed for 1,414 yards and 16 touchdowns on 215 carries, averaging 6.6 yards per carry while helping LSU navigate the SEC en route to a national championship. He also showcased his skills as a receiver, totaling 453 yards and a touchdown on 55 catches.
The Chiefs exercised a club option on Damien Williams to keep him in Kansas City for the 2020 season and Darrel Williams returns in the final year of his contract. Additionally, the Chiefs used a sixth-round pick on Darwin Thompson in 2019 and have Elijah McGuire, Marcus Marshall and Mike Weber signed to reserve/future deals.
Given the makeup of their current backfield, it makes sense to bolster the running back position with Edwards-Helaire, whose skill-set would be an ideal fit for the Chiefs.
Round 3 (96th overall):
OL Hakeem Adeniji, Kansas
Sooner or later, even with two of the NFL’s top bookend tackles on their current roster, the Chiefs need to consider a versatile offensive lineman of the future. Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, a first-team All-Pro selection in 2018, turns 31 on June 8, while 2018 Pro Bowl left tackle Eric Fisher turns 30 after the 2020 regular season.
Why not groom an heir apparent now in the 6-foot-4, 302-pound Adeniji, who can play both tackle positions and also projects to play inside?
The Chiefs are certainly familiar with the former Jayhawk, having attended Adeniji’s pro day workout. The Chiefs were also set to hold a private workout with Adeniji, who started all 48 games in college, before the pre-draft process came to a halt because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Adeniji made it clear he would enjoy being a part of the Chiefs’ offense and blocking for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“Man, their offense is explosive,” Adeniji told The Star in early March. “It involves a lot of pass protection and that’s definitely one of my strengths. So, coming in and protecting probably the best quarterback of this age that you see in the NFL, I think I could definitely do that better than a lot of people could. I’d definitely fit right in.”
Round 4 (138th overall):
LB Michael Pinckney, Miami
After taking players for the offense with consecutive picks, the Chiefs return to the defensive side of the ball and hit a home run with a guy who fills a position of need.
The Chiefs lost starting linebacker Reggie Ragland to free agency and Darron Lee remains on the open market. Their current linebacker group consists of returning starters Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson, with Ben Niemann, Dorian O’Daniel, Darius Harris and Emmanuel Smith as backups.
There’s little doubt the Chiefs need a linebacker capable of staying on the field in clear passing situations, and O’Daniel could emerge in that role next season.
But with Pinckney, the Chiefs would boost both the level of competition here and their depth at the position. His college resume is bursting with examples of his production against the pass.
As a four-year starter at Miami, the 5-foot-11, 235-pound Pinckney amassed 14.5 sacks, three interceptions and eight passes defensed to go along with 267 total tackles.
Pinckeny understands the importance of being an every-down player capable of covering running backs out of the backfield in today’s NFL.
“This game is changing, man,” Pinckney told The Star at the NFL Scouting Combine. “You’re getting guys coming out of the backfield running 4.4, 4.3, so your technique has to be real sound. You got to be a really fast guy, and I feel like I’ve got a combination of both (traits).”
The Chiefs will have options to consider at linebacker in the middle rounds, and Pinckney makes perfect sense.
Round 5 (177th overall):
S Jeremiah Dinson, Auburn
A wide receiver could be on the Chiefs’ radar here, but their re-signing of Demarcus Robinson means the this position isn’t a need. Additionally, this year’s draft class is deep at receiver, so the Chiefs could look at undrafted free agents.
The Chiefs are set at the safety position with Tyrann Mathieu and Juan Thornhill, but they lost Jordan Lucas to free agency and Daniel Sorensen is entering a contract year.
Addressing depth at safety in the middle rounds would be a wise move, especially as Thornhill continues his recovery from a torn ACL.
Dinson led Auburn in tackles (88) and tied for the team lead in interceptions (2) in 2019. Somewhat surprisingly, he didn’t receive an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine. But history shows that some players invited to Indianapolis will go undrafted, and some combine snubs will hear their name called during the selection process.
The 6-foot, 191-pound Dinson could fall into the latter category. His experience playing both safety and cornerback in college will attract attention and could be especially alluring to a Chiefs defensive secondary that thrives on positional flexibility.
