Our second Chiefs six-round mock draft: a Fighting Irish left tackle at pick No. 31?
With just a little more than two weeks to go before the 2020 NFL Draft, which is scheduled for April 29-May 1, it’s time to dive into another mock draft about picks and position groups that make sense for the Chiefs.
The Star rolled out Chiefs Mock 1.0 last week.
With another week to think about it, here’s a fresh look at who the Chiefs might select in their quest for a third straight run at a Super Bowl appearance.
Round 1 (31st overall): OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
The Chiefs have yet to make a free-agent splash signing at the tackle position, perhaps signaling their intent to fill the shoes of Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz through the draft.
If that is indeed the case, the 6-foot-5, 302-pound Eichenberg could be available at this spot.
A mainstay at left tackle for the Fighting Irish, Eichenberg capped his college career with first-team All-ACC and second-team All-American honors. He was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top offensive lineman.
The Chiefs could wait for the second round to grab a starting-caliber tackle, but there’s always a risk of losing out to another team. So this is the spot to address the position, especially if the Chiefs don’t snare a veteran tackle in free agency three weeks before the NFL draft.
- Mock 1.0 selection: OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
Round 2 (63rd): WR Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach previously complimented the wide receiver depth in the 2021 NFL Draft class, and Marshall is a prime example of the talent pool he’s referencing.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Marshall was overshadowed at times by college teammate Ja’Marr Chase, who projects as an early first-round pick. But Marshall certainly had his share of big plays in LSU’s high-octane and pro-friendly offense.
Before deciding to opt out in November 2020, Marshall totaled 48 catches for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns in seven games, averaging a healthy 104.4 yards per contest for the Tigers. He finished his college career with 106 catches for 1,594 yards and 23 touchdowns.
The Chiefs’ current wide receiver corps lacks a big body and Marshall’s size alone makes him an appealing target in the red zone, as he’ll win his share of 50-50 jump balls against smaller defensive backs.
Marshall is drawing pre-draft interest and some NFL prognosticators project him as an early- to mid-second round pick, so he might not be available by the time the Chiefs are on the clock. But if he’s here at this spot, this could be an easy decision for Veach.
The Chiefs should be familiar with Marshall. Their scouts spent time at LSU evaluating running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire before using a first-round pick on the rusher in 2020.
Marshall also knows about the Chiefs: His great-uncle is former Chiefs running back Joe Delaney.
- Mock 1.0 selection: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
Round 3 (94th): LB Monty Rice, Georgia
After spending time on offense with the first two picks, it’s time to shift gears and address the other side of the ball.
The Chiefs scout the SEC well and could bolster the linebacker position with Rice, who garnered 2020 first-team All-SEC honors from The Associated Press and was a Butkus Award finalist last season.
The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Rice anchored the middle of the Bulldogs’ defense for four seasons, finishing his four-year college career with 219 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss, two sacks and five passes defensed.
Kansas City should be in the market for a linebacker after losing Damien Wilson, a starter the last two seasons (and who opted out in 2020), in free agency.
Anthony Hitchens, who has two years remaining on his contract, and Ben Niemann return. But pairing Rice with Willie Gay Jr., another former SEC linebacker whom the Chiefs selected in the second round last year, would be a nod toward the future.
- Mock 1.0 selection: WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State
Round 4 (136th): OL Stone Forsythe, Florida
If the Chiefs want size in an offensive lineman and an opportunity to bolster their depth via this year’s draft, they’ll have it with the 6-foot-9, 315-pound Forsythe.
But he presents more than just an imposing frame. Forsythe turned in some quality play at left tackle on the Gators’ offensive line. He also brings that all-important swing potential, having drawn reps in live action at right tackle, too.
Some NFL Draft analysts have knocked Forsythe’s blocking skills, but the same prognosticators say the Florida product should do well as a blocker in a pass-heavy offense.
Given what the Chiefs like to do with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who commands one of the NFL’s top aerial attacks, this sounds like an ideal match.
- Mock 1.0 selection: DE Adetokunbo Ogundeji, Notre Dame
Round 4 (144th; comp pick): CB Trill Williams, Syracuse
The 6-foot, 208-pound Williams will come with medical questions, having undergone ankle surgery after opting out of the 2020 season.
But if he checks out as fully recovered, the lean Williams would provide versatility to man numerous coverage spots, including free safety or nickel cornerback, in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme.
Williams, who clocked a sub-4.4 time in the 40-yard dash at Syracuse’s Pro Day workout, finished his college career with 92 tackles, four interceptions and five passes defensed.
The Chiefs were awarded this extra pick after losing cornerback Kendall Fuller to free agency in 2020.
- Mock 1.0 selection: OL Sadarius Hutcherson, South Carolina
Round 5 (175th): DE Jonathon Cooper, Ohio State
The Chiefs showed their interest in bolstering the pass rush by hosting free-agent defensive end Melvin Ingram on a visit (it didn’t result in his signing).
Adding another pass-rush piece to their defensive line to complement Frank Clark on the opposite side continues to make sense.
The 6-foot-4, 257-pound Cooper appeared in 37 games for the Buckeyes, totaling 77 tackles and 10.5 sacks. He’ll likely need time to develop and adjust to the pro game, but a team isn’t using a fifth-round pick on an immediate starter.
Cooper, whom draft analysts project as a middle-round pick, would do best early in his career in a rotational role as he adjusts to the next level.
- Mock 1.0 selection: TE Matt Bushman, BYU
Round 5 (181st, comp pick): S Dwayne Johnson Jr., San Diego State
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Johnson — no relation to The Rock — is considered a hard-hitting safety, an ideal trait in the Chiefs’ defensive scheme, given how they use their safeties.
Johnson totaled 148 tackles, a sack, an interception and eight passes defensed over four college seasons while manning the strong safety position for the Aztecs.
He wouldn’t be asked to start in KC, at least not initially. But any safety selected by the Chiefs in the 2021 NFL Draft would provide depth behind starters Tyrann Mathieu and Juan Thornhill along with safeties Daniel Sorensen, who recently returned on a one-year deal, and Armani Watts.
The Chiefs were awarded this extra pick after losing defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah to free agency in 2020.
- Mock 1.0 selection: CB Tariq Castro-Fields, Penn State
Round 6 (207th, via Miami): C/G Joe Sculthorpe, N.C. State
The Chiefs signed center Austin Blythe on a one-year deal during free agency and Nick Allegretti returns, but adding competition here could be wise.
At 6-foot-2, 295 pounds, Anderson has decent size and can play both center and guard — the kind of versatility that the Chiefs covet among their front-five starters and backups.
The Chiefs own this draft position from the DeAndre Washington trade to the Dolphins last year.
- Mock 1.0 selection: S Deontay Anderson, Houston
This story was originally published April 9, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
