Former NFL GM explains why Kansas City Chiefs don’t need to trade up in the draft
The Chiefs will enter next week’s NFL Draft flush with capital as they hold a dozen picks, including two in the first round and six of the first 62 overall.
NFL analysts believe that will allow the Chiefs to trade up in the draft to land a wide receiver to help replace Tyreek Hill, who was traded to the Miami Dolphins.
ESPN’s Todd McShay made that case Tuesday.
“(Chiefs general manager) Brett Veach has got to be thrilled right now,” McShay said on the network. “You’ve got an opportunity to package some of those picks, go up and target a guy. I’ve said all along the closest thing to Tyreek Hill in this Draft is Jameson Williams from Alabama.”
The good news about this year’s draft from a Chiefs perspective is there are a number of good wide receivers who will be available besides Williams.
Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Southern Cal’s Drake London, Penn State’s Jahan Dotson, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks, North Dakota State’s Christian Watson and Western Michigan’s Skyy Moore could step in and help a team this fall.
“Teams looking to draft wide receiver help in 2022 are in luck, as it’s another deep class,” Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Hanson wrote. “If it’s not the strongest position group, it’s without question one of the strongest.”
Could KC trade down in draft?
Mark Dominik, a KU grad who was the Buccaneers’ director of pro scouting when they won Super Bowl XXXVII and later served as the team’s general manager, believes the Chiefs have no need to move up to draft a receiver.
“I think they’re going to be in pretty good shape to stick where they are and add two good players,” Dominik, who is now a SiriusXM analyst, said Tuesday in a conference call. “I think that this wide receiver group is strong enough where you should be able to get one at the bottom of the first round that you like, and I think that’s gonna be something Kansas City is happy about.
“That way they can draft maybe one more thing on the defensive side of the ball, whether that’s the secondary, probably in my mind. But to me, that’s why I would stay pat, I don’t think you gotta go get a receiver unless you feel like this is one of those times where there’s only one guy you like. But I think there’s so many good ones that you’re going to be very comfortable to just kind of play it out and take your two picks.”
The Chiefs’ two first-round picks are Nos. 29 and 30 and they will come late in the first day of the NFL Draft.
Dominik believes the Chiefs could be inclined to trade back if another team makes a strong offer.
“If anything, I could see Kansas City move one pick back and get out of that bottom of that first round and take advantage of somebody who wants to come up and get a player before day one ends,” he said. “So I look for Kansas City to not be as aggressive. I think that they’re going to be more like letting it come to them.”
This story was originally published April 20, 2022 at 9:58 AM.
