The Kansas City Chiefs have had a drastic shift within their defensive scheme this offseason. How will this impact their 2019 NFL Draft class?
Welcome to draft season here at NFL Fan Blitz! This is the best time of year (except during the NFL season, obviously) for our staff to get some predictions and analysis released and we certainly are happy to do so! The Kansas City Chiefs need a lot of defensive help this offseason and they certainly find some answers in this 7-round mock draft.
Round 1
The Pick: Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple
Rated the #6 cornerback in college football by Pro Football Focus in 2018, Ya-Sin is largely a developmental prospect. Though most Kansas City Chiefs fans may be looking for an instant starter and defensive stud, Ya-Sin may need some time to develop into the frame and skills that he has at his disposal.
The Temple defensive back could come in an earn a starting role within Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, but if given time, he could be a center piece for their secondary for years to come.
Ya-Sin is a physical, well-built cornerback with long arms that give him an upper hand in press man-coverage. If his footwork and tackling see some improvement, he could develop into a quality outside corner.
– Grant Morse, NFL Fan Blitz Draft Analyst
Round 2
The Pick: Garrett Bradbury, OL, N.C. State
With center Mitch Morse set to enter free agency, the Chiefs and general manager will be tasked with replacing the quarterback of the offensive line this offseason.
Bradbury is easily the best center prospect in this year’s draft and would be an instant starter as a rookie, but the concern remains whether he will fall into the mid-to-later portion of the 2nd round. Offensive line-needy teams may jump at the opportunity to add a stud of an interior prospect.
Bradbury is a slightly undersized offensive lineman, but is a technician to the fullest extent of the term. His strength could use some improvement, but all-in-all he is arguably the best center prospect since Travis Frederick.
– Grant Morse, NFL Fan Blitz Draft Analyst
The Pick: Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida
With the team’s move to a 4-3 this offseason, Veach will be tasked with filling in the gaps within the front seven. Enter the former Gator inside linebacker.
With 87 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 2018, Joseph could be the versatile weapon that the Chiefs need within its linebacker room. At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, Joseph likely projects as a WILL linebacker in Spagnuolo’s defense, but packs enough of a punch in run defense to fill in at the middle linebacker spot as well.
Joseph is an undersized linebacker with fantastic play speed and coverage skills, although he could improve his consistency with tackling. He profiles best as a Will LB in Spagnuolo’s system.
– Grant Morse, NFL Fan Blitz Draft Analyst
Round 3
The Pick: Michael Deiter, OG, Wisconsin
Bradbury combined with Deiter is a dream for the Chiefs offense moving forward. With injuries hitting the interior of the offensive line in 2018, the Chiefs need to find some true depth and prepare to improve an offense that was tops in the league last season.
When you have a once-in-a-lifetime quarterback like Patrick Mahomes, you must do anything and everything to keep him clean in the pocket. Deiter is a true man’s man on the interior of the offensive line and could fill in at any of the three inside spots.
Deiter is a versatile offensive lineman with prototypical size and strength for the NFL level. He shows greater consistency as an interior offensive lineman, likely due to his less than ideal length.
– Grant Morse, NFL Fan Blitz Draft Analyst
Round 5
The Pick: Porter Gustin, EDGE, USC
As of right now, most Kansas City-based reporters believe that Justin Houston will get a first crack at the SAM linebacker role within Spagnuolo’s defense. This position requires a lot of versatility, as it calls for some intermediate coverage skills, as well as being a key pass rusher. Gustin is the perfect fit for this role.
The linebacker has been hit with the injury bug as a collegiate athlete, but if he can get fully healthy he could become a premier linebacker in the Chiefs’ new defensive scheme.
When healthy Gustin, is a player that pops off the screen thanks to his high motor and physicality. He does have serious injury concerns, but if he can quell these concerns he could turn out to be a quality Sam LB in Spagnuolo’s scheme.
– Grant Morse, NFL Fan Blitz Draft Analyst
Round 6
The Pick: Marquise Blair, S, Utah
As mentioned before, the Chiefs secondary needs a lot of help and though Blair may not be an instant starter, his ability to cover on the back-end of a defense should be very useful.
Blair would likely begin his career making a name for himself on special teams, potentially as a returner, but could develop into a nice nickel/dime safety and ideally could become a contender to start at free safety.
Blair is a tall, long, and lean safety with good physicality who experienced some highs and lows in coverage during his time at Utah. If he can develop in coverage he could make for a solid free safety.
– Grant Morse, NFL Fan Blitz Draft Analyst
Round 7
The Pick: Bruce Anderson, RB, North Dakota State
Kansas City lost a premier weapon in Kareem Hunt this past season, following reports of domestic violence. However, the team did see a lot of positives from Damien Williams and Darrel Williams to give them some confidence in the running back position heading into 2019. This should not keep them from adding talented prospects to that position group.
Anderson stands at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, which mimics that of former Andy Reid backs Lesean McCoy, Brian Westbrook and Jamaal Charles. This is not to say that Anderson is a replica of any of those players, but his ability to work in space and handle the screen game would prove to be lethal within the Chiefs offense.
Anderson is a slightly undersized back that plays bigger than his height and weight would indicate. He shows good balance through contact and solid ability to catch passes out of the backfield, but his vision could use some work.
– Grant Morse, NFL Fan Blitz Draft Analyst
Agree or disagree with these picks? Comment below!
4 Responses
This mock draft sucks totally disagree with every pick
Hello Eric. Why do you disagree with every selection?
Interesting draft, I like that it doesn’t have the typical “neglect the offense and draft all defense” approach . Team building needs to be balanced or you run into issues of major deficiencies in the long run.