Live NFL Draft updates: KC Chiefs pick a WR, ‘enforcer’ safety + Wisconsin linebacker
Who’s ready for more NFL Draft?
You, hopefully, as we settle in for the second evening of the three-day player-selection process out in Las Vegas. Last night was a ton of fun and this evening will be, too.
Once again, we’ll be keeping close watch over the Kansas City Chiefs and how they deploy their picks in Friday night’s second and third rounds (with Rounds 4-7 to follow during the day on Saturday).
Chiefs get a new receiver
Patrick Mahomes has a new weapon in the Chiefs’ offense.
After trading down a few spots, the Chiefs selected wide receiver Skyy Moore of Western Michigan with the 54th pick on Friday.
Read more about the newest Chiefs wideout here.
The Chiefs picked again not long after that, selecting Cincinnati Bearcats safety Bryan Cook at No. 62. On the NFL Network after the pick was read, they were using words like “physical” and “enforcer” to describe Cook, which are nice things to hear if you’re a Chiefs fan.
And then they made their final pick of the draft’s second night, selecting Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal at No. 103.
Help early for Spags’ defense
Opening night brought a surprise for the Chiefs, who liked a particular guy who was still on the board as the New England Patriots prepared to pick 21st overall. Seeing an opportunity, Chiefs GM Brett Veach and his evaluation team busted a move, sending a couple of later-round picks and their 29th overall selection to Camp Belichick in exchange for the Pats’ pick at No. 21.
The Chiefs promptly used that pick to select cornerback Trent McDuffie from the University of Washington. Will he be a day one starter in the NFL? Unclear, for now, but Veach and Co. (that includes head coach Andy Reid) believe he has the potential and can at the very least slot in immediately for many snaps this fall.
With their second pick in the first round, No. 30 overall, the Chiefs scooped up Purdue rush end George Karlaftis, completing a one-two punch for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Star columnist Sam McDowell said the move up to pluck McDuffie was wise on a couple of fronts.
And here’s what the national pundits have been saying about the Chiefs’ day one picks.
A couple of picks later, day one of the NFL Draft was complete. Which brings us to Friday ...
When do Chiefs pick tonight?
Today, the draft resumes at 6 p.m. Central Time on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network, as well as via stream through the NFL app and FuboTV.
The Chiefs hold three picks tonight (barring more wheeling and dealing from Veach, of course): a pair of second-rounders, Nos. 50 and 62, and one third-rounder, at No. 103. Their second third-round pick went to New England in the move up to acquire McDuffie.
KC Star beat writer Herbie Teope wrote this Friday morning assessment of the Chiefs’ remaining needs and some best fits, based on the players still available. And there are a whole lot of them from which to choose. As you’ll read from Teope, the watchword for the Chiefs as tonight’s rounds unfold is flexibility.
Also, check out this overall NFL Draft primer from our own Pete Grathoff.
Round 2 recap
33. Tampa Bay: Logan Hall, DE, Houston
34. Green Bay: Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota St.
35. Tennessee: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
36. NY Jets: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
37. Houston: Jalen Pitre, DB, Baylor
38. Atlanta: Arnold Ebiketie, edge, Penn State
39. Chicago: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
40. Seattle: Boye Mafe, edge, Minnesota
41. Seattle: Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
42. Minnesota: Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson
43. NY GIANTS: Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
44. Houston: John Metchie III, WR. Alabama
45. Baltimore: David Ojabo, edge, Michigan
46. Detroit: Joshua Paschal, DE, Kentucky
47. Washington: Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama
48. Chicago: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
49. New Orleans: Alontae Taylor, CB, Tennessee
50. New England: Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
51. Philadelphia: Cam Jurgens, C, Nebraska
52. Pittsburgh: George Pickets, WR, Georgia
53. Indianapolis: Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
54. Kansas City: Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
55. Arizona: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
56. Dallas: Sam Williams, edge, Mississippi
57. Tampa Bay: Luke Goedeke, G, Central Michigan
58. Atlanta: Troy Anderson, LB, Montana State
59. Minnesota: Ed Ingram, G, LSU
60. Cincinnati: Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska
61. San Francisco: Drake Jackson, edge, USC
62. Kansas City: Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati
63. Buffalo: James Cook, RB, Georgia
64. Denver: Nick Bonitto, edge, Oklahoma
The draft is coming! The draft is coming!
You’re no doubt well aware by now that the NFL Draft’s next stop is Kansas City. That’s right, KC will play host to the big shindig in 2023.
Star columnist Vahe Gregorian watched opening night of the 2022 edition and wrote this on Friday about what having the draft staged between Union Station and the Liberty Memorial will mean to our fair middle-of-the-map burg.
It, too, is most definitely worth a read.
An eye on sports betting
Quick break here to note that Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt spoke this afternoon to a roiling discussion around the possibility of his team splitting the Show Me State in favor of new digs on the Kansas side.
That could never really happen, right? Not so fast. There’s a lot of money at stake, and potentially a ton more if sports betting truly becomes coolio in Kansas, and who doesn’t like money?
Check out Blair Kerkhoff’s story here ...
Round 1, recapped
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Travon Walker, linebacker from Georgia, with the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday. He’s the first UGA Bulldog taken first overall since quarterback Matthew Stafford went No. 1 to the Detroit Lions in 2009.
The Lions, coincidentally, picked next, selecting another edge rusher, Aidan Hutchinson from Michigan, No. 2 overall. The Houston Texans took defensive back Derek Stingley Jr. from LSU at No. 3 and the New York Jets tabbed cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner from Cincinnati No. 4.
At No. 5, the New York Giants kept with the theme of defense in taking Kayvon Thibodeaux, a defensive end from Oregon.
And then, finally, came an offensive player: The Carolina Panthers, badly needing some better pass pro, went with tackle Ikem Ekwonu from nearby N.C. State at No. 6. That led to the selection of another tackle, Alabama’s Evan Neal, at No. 7 to the Giants.
The Atlanta Falcons, who will start Marcus Mariota at quarterback this coming season, picked up a new pass-catching target in USC wide receiver Drake London at No. 8.
The Seahawks’ pick of Mississippi State tackle Charles Cross at No. 9 is interesting because a) their starting QB this fall could be Lee’s Summit and Mizzou product Drew Lock (he has competition, but after being traded from Denver to Seattle this offseason he’s one of a couple of candidates to succeed Russell Wilson in that role), and b) Seattle’s offensive line was pretty leaky last season.
If it’s Lock under center in Seattle this fall, his protection now stands to be at least a little bit better.
Rounding out Thursday night’s Top 10, the Jets used their second Top 10 pick in this draft on receiver Garrett Wilson of Ohio State. Wilson was regarded by some as the top wideout in this year’s class.
Here’s more from the first round:
No. 11, New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
No. 12, Detroit Lions: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
No. 13, Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
No. 14, Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
No. 15, Houston Texans: Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
No. 16, Washington Commanders: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
No. 17, Los Angeles Chargers: Zion Johnson, OL, Boston College
No. 18, Tennessee Titans: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
No. 19, New Orleans Saints: Trevor Penning, T, Northern Iowa
No. 20, Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
No. 21, Kansas City Chiefs: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
No. 22, Green Bay Packers: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
No. 23, Buffalo Bills: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
No. 24, Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Smith, OL, Tulsa
No. 25, Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum, OL, Iowa
No. 26, New York Jets: Jermaine Johnson II, edge, Florida State
No. 27, Jacksonville Jaguars: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
No. 28, Green Bay Packers: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
No. 29, New England Patriots: Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga
No. 30, Kansas City Chiefs: George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
No. 31, Cincinnati Bengals: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
No. 32, Minnesota Vikings: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
Old-school lids
The NFL’s lineup of draft-day headwear includes a throwback look for the Chiefs that not everyone was loving on Thursday.
This story was originally published April 29, 2022 at 5:17 PM.