Ethan Hewett | April 9th, 2020
The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions. While most NFL teams have run rampant this offseason, the Chiefs have decided to “run it back.” They franchise tagged star defensive tackle Chris Jones, and re-signed receiver Demarcus Robinson, defensive tackle Mike Pennel, and fullback Anthony Sherman. The team also was able to restructure Sammy Watkins’ contract to free up another $5 million dollars in cap space.
Among in house business, the Chiefs have brought in former XFL quarterback Jordan Ta’amu along with tight end Ricky Seals-Jones. The Chiefs have five draft picks in the 2020 NFL Draft to try and add a few more pieces to another potential Super Bowl run.
I used the Draft Network Mock Draft Machine to help with this mock draft.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL team mock drafts here.
Round 1, Pick 32: Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
I know, why didn’t you pick a linebacker? To me, the value won’t be there as the top linebackers likely will be gone and Cesar Ruiz likely won’t make it this far. With Gross-Matos draft stock slipping due to other edge rusher’s combine performances, this pick was too good to pass up. The dominant edge rusher out of Penn State fits perfectly into what Steve Spagnuolo likes in his defensive ends. Gross-Matos has the prototypical size and length along with a great ability to bend the edge and also the power to push around offensive tackles.
Not only does Gross-Matos present an ability to get after the quarterback, but he can also provide excellent run support. He put up 20 total tackles for loss his sophomore season and added another 14.5 his junior year. Gross-Matos seemed to find himself in the backfield of nearly every play and sheds blocks with ease. He would be a great addition to a Chiefs defense that struggled against the run last season. Check out Gross-Matos’ scouting report here.
If you listen closely, you can hear this Indiana left tackle yelling "LOOK OUT!" to his quarterback.
— Joe Marino (@TheJoeMarino) June 25, 2019
Impressive hand combatting skills on display here by Penn State EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos. pic.twitter.com/ouAxvWV2lJ
Round 2, Pick 63: Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
Two words: ball skills. The Chiefs have a significant need at cornerback with Kendall Fuller gone and even with Bashaud Breeland back, his contract is just for one year. For the Chiefs, there wouldn’t be a better replacement for Fuller than Hall. The former Cavalier defensive back shined in zone coverage. He showed an impressive ability to ride with receivers downfield and work back to the football. Hall also showcased a strong talent to highpoint the football.
While he may not be able to win in a foot race with some of the sub 4.4 receivers in the NFL, his short-area burst and quickness are impressive, and his scrappy playstyle helps make up for that. While some teams may be turned off by Hall being more one dimensional, why turn him down when he is good at what your defense likes to do? Not to mention that he would be reunited with former teammate Juan Thornhill.
Round 3, Pick 96: Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
For those who were worried the Chiefs would pass on linebacker once more this season, think again. Reggie Ragland hits free agency after this season, and the Chiefs’ linebacker room is in desperate need of pass coverage ability. Wilson’s name might be lesser-known if you didn’t watch this year’s Senior Bowl, where Wilson put on an excellent performance and showed functional skills in coverage. He has proper play recognition and has the athletic abilities to play some man coverage. He may not have blazing speed, but he has excellent short-area quickness and shoots into backside gaps eager to make plays. Pairing his awareness and coverage skills with elite tackling fundamentals, Wilson would be a great SAM linebacker for this Chiefs defense.
Round 4, Pick 138: Lamical Perine, RB, Florida
Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy, along with rookie Darwin Thompson were a solid trio for the Chiefs in 2019. However, McCoy fell off the map late in the season, and it doesn’t look like he will be returning in 2020. This leaves a hole in the stable that Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy want to have in their backfield. Perine would be a substantial addition and give this running back room more diversity.
Perine was a solid runner for the Florida Gators, putting up 676 yards on 132 carries in 2019. While the numbers aren’t astronomical, he had a consistent college career. He was a solid receiving back out of the backfield. While Perine isn’t the guy if you’re looking for a feature running back, he has good field vision and can maneuver between the tackles. Pair this with his good pass-catching ability, and the potential to be a solid pass-blocker, he would be a reliable third-down back in this Chiefs offense. At a minimum, Perine would be a great special team addition.
Round 5, Pick 177: Keith Ismael, IOL, San Diego State
Ismael has not been getting enough love from evaluators. While he may not have played against NFL level talent, Ismael put on an impressive Senior Bowl performance. He has flown up some people’s draft boards as one of the best centers in this draft class. He has shown a strong ability to work in space in a more zone-heavy scheme, but also can work in the telephone booth against interior pass rushers. While Ismael may not be an instant starter for the Chiefs, he could be competing with Austin Reiter for the starting center role come the regular season.
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