Guess who Kansas City Chiefs pick first in our final 6-round mock (hint: LSU receiver)
The Chiefs will be on the clock in less than a week for the 2020 NFL Draft, which is scheduled for April 29-May 1, so let’s dive into a final mock scenario.
The Star rolled out its Chiefs Mock 1.0 on April 2, followed by Chiefs Mock 2.0 on April 9 and Chiefs Mock 3.0 on April 16.
By now, the Chiefs’ pro personnel and scouting departments, led by general manager Brett Veach, and the team’s coaching staff have met and discussed their draft board in great detail. The finishing touches have been made, or will be, before the draft kicks off Thursday night.
How the Chiefs view this year’s draft class and their own specific needs will differ from the media’s perspective. But putting together mock drafts provides an opportunity to evaluate who makes sense for the Chiefs in their quest for a third straight Super Bowl appearance.
With the countdown officially ticking down to the real thing, here’s our last dive into players and position groups the Chiefs might consider, provided they don’t engage in trades to move up or down during the annual three-day selection process.
Round 1 (31st overall): WR Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
Common sense suggests the Chiefs think tackle, especially one capable of protecting star quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blindside, at this spot. The Chiefs showed this sense of urgency at the start of free agency by going all-in on Trent Williams, who elected to re-sign with the San Francisco 49ers instead.
So, left tackle still a top priority, right?
Not so fast. Recent comments by coach Andy Reid suggest the Chiefs might favor an in-house option for replacing Eric Fisher, who was released in March ahead of free agency.
Reid seemed to say that Lucas Niang, the Chiefs’ third-round pick in 2020, could get a shot at competing for the starting job. The coach then mentioned Kyle Long, Mike Remmers and Andrew Wylie as additional on-hand options. Reid even left the door open for a potential return of Fisher and/or right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, both of whom were released in salary-cap saving moves.
If the Chiefs are comfortable enough with Niang, Long, Remmers and Wylie battling it out, grabbing a tackle in the first round as an immediate need might not be in play Thursday night. And that would enable them to grab the best player available with the 31st pick, barring a trade.
Enter the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Marshall, who is the great-nephew of former Chiefs running back Joe Delaney. You might recall that Marshall was a second-round selection in The Star’s Mock 2.0; here, he reappears on center stage.
This could be slightly early to select the wide receiver, but he might not make it to the Chiefs’ second-round slot. Marshall had more than his share of big plays in LSU’s offense alongside highly touted teammate Ja’Marr Chase, who projects as an early first-rounder.
While Marshall opted out in November 2020 after playing seven games, he amassed 48 catches for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging a whopping 104.4 yards for the Tigers’ potent offense. He finished his career at LSU with 106 catches for 1,594 yards and 23 touchdowns.
The Chiefs might very well be in the market for a big-play receiver, especially after losing Sammy Watkins in free agency, and Veach has complimented the depth of this year’s receiver class.
If Marshall lands in Kansas City, he would provide a big body in the red zone. His size gives him an advantage on 50/50 jump balls against smaller defensive backs.
The Chiefs are plenty familiar with recent LSU standouts. After spending time evaluating running back Clyde Edwards in Baton Rouge, La., he became their first-round pick in 2020.
- Mock 1.0 selection: OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
- Mock 2.0 selection: OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
- Mock 3.0 selection: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
Round 2 (63rd): DE Carlos ‘Boogie’ Basham, Wake Forest
The Chiefs might not be able to ignore the versatile and highly productive Basham if he’s available at this spot.
Basham, who measures a stout 6-foot-3, 274 pounds, showed in college that he can play both outside and inside. He made 173 tackles, including a head-turning 35.5 for a loss, and 19.5 sacks in four collegiate seasons.
He added seven forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and eight passes defenses at Wake Forest, garnering a first-team All-ACC selection in 2019 and third-team All-ACC spot in 2020.
The Chiefs have in-house options Taco Chartlon, Mike Danna and Tim Ward to consider in their search for a complementary pass rusher opposite Frank Clark. Adding Basham here would only bolster that competition, with an eye on the future.
- Mock 1.0 selection: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
- Mock 2.0 selection: WR Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
- Mock 3.0 selection: OT Samuel Cosmi, Texas
Round 3 (94th): LB Pete Werner, Ohio State
The Chiefs should be in the market for a linebacker after losing Damien Wilson in free agency.
Anthony Hitchens, Willie Gay Jr., Ben Niemann and Darius Harris return from last season’s active 53-player roster, but adding a thumper like Werner would strengthen the group.
The 6-foot-3, 242-pound Werner can play all three linebacker spots in the Chiefs’ 4-3 base scheme, and he excels against the run. In four seasons at Ohio State, the high-motor Werner totaled 185 tackles, including 16 for a loss.
He showed a knack against the pass, too, accounting for four sacks and 13 passes defensed.
Grabbing Werner, who clocked a reported 4.58 time in the 40-yard dash during Ohio State’s Pro Day workout, would give the Chiefs an every-down option for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme.
- Mock 1.0 selection: WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State
- Mock 2.0 selection: LB Monty Rice, Georgia
- Mock 3.0 selection: DE Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh
Round 4 (136th): T Stone Forsythe, Florida
In our Mock 4.0 scenario, after not addressing the offensive line yet under the assumption Lucas Niang will get a shot at left tackle, it’s time to add to the front five.
The 6-foot-9, 315-pound Forsythe becomes the second player to make a second appearance in The Star’s four-part mock exercise because he makes perfect sense for this team.
The starting left tackle at Florida showcased that all-important versatility the Chiefs covet in their offensive linemen by also playing some right tackle.
If the Chiefs are serious about Niang, and he outright wins the job, Forsythe could be their future at right tackle.
- Mock 1.0 selection: DE Adetokunbo Ogundeji, Notre Dame
- Mock 2.0 selection: OL Stone Forsythe, Florida
- Mock 3.0 selection: G Aaron Banks, Notre Dame
Round 4 (144th, comp pick): T Brady Christensen, BYU
After waiting until Day 3 to address the tackle spots, the Chiefs could make it back-to-back picks at the position.
The 6-foot-5, 302-pound Christensen knows a thing or two about protecting the blind side of a prized signal-caller. In recent seasons, Christensen helped keep pass rushers away from QB Zach Wilson, who’s projected as a consensus top-five pick.
And there should be plenty of personal insight about Christiansen, given Andy Reid’s roots at BYU.
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
- Mock 2.0 selection: CB Trill Williams, Syracuse
- Mock 3.0 selection: CB Marco Wilson, Florida
Round 5 (175th): CB Camryn Bynum, Cal
The 6-foot, 200-pound Bynum offers plenty of college experience after starting all 42 games from 2017-20 in a Golden Bears uniform.
He reportedly clocked a 4.49 in the 40 at Cal’s Pro Day workout, and totaled 184 tackles, six interceptions and 28 passes defensed in college. While he mostly played cornerback in college, he could play outside or inside as needed.
With Charvarius Ward, L’Jarius Sneed, Rashad Fenton and Deandre Baker returning, Bynum probably wouldn’t be an immediate starter. But he’d bolster the depth and level of competition in a critical position group.
- Mock 1.0 selection: TE Matt Bushman, BYU
- Mock 2.0 selection: DE Jonathon Cooper, Ohio State
- Mock 3.0 selection: WR Anthony Schwartz, Auburn
Round 5 (181st, comp pick): S Mark Webb, Georgia
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Webb turned heads at Georgia’s Pro Day workout, clocking a reported 4.50 time in the 40 and 80-inch wingspan. And he was productive enough in four seasons at UGA, recording 74 tackles and eight passes defensed.
What should really intrigue the Chiefs, however, is the fact that Webb can play both safety and corner. He could also contribute on special teams.
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
- Mock 2.0 selection: S Dwayne Johnson Jr., San Diego State
- Mock 3.0 selection: S Eric Burrell, Wisconsin
Round 6 (207th, via Miami): OL Derek Kerstetter, Texas
As noted earlier, the Chiefs covet position flexibility along the offensive line. They would have that attribute and then some with the 6-foot-5, 300-pound Kerstetter, who lined up at right tackle, guard and center throughout his college career.
But it’s his ability to play center that stands out the most for the purposes of this mock draft.
There are future question marks along the middle of the Chiefs’ front five. Newcomer Austin Blythe only signed a one-year deal during free agency. Nick Allegretti, who can play guard and center, and Darryl Williams, who spent time on the Chiefs’ practice squad in 2020, also return, but adding competition here wouldn’t hurt.
The Chiefs own this draft position from the DeAndre Washington trade to the Dolphins last year.
- Mock 1.0 selection: S Deontay Anderson, Houston
- Mock 2.0 selection: C/G Joe Sculthorpe, North Carolina State
- Mock 3.0 selection: C Drake Jackson, Kentucky
