As the NFL draft approaches, the Chiefs draft plan is coming into the picture, but still, there is much debate among fans as to how the Chiefs should go about attacking the draft. Coming into the offseason, it felt like the Chiefs' positions of need were very clear. But this has become more of a question as the offseason has gone on as they were able to address many of these needs through free agency.
Draft picks are always going to be riskier than free agents, and you can never truly guarantee the success of a player coming out of the draft. I often say teams should look at the draft as a luxury, and should not count on draft picks to immediately fill starting positions. Since the Chiefs were able to fill the gaps in their roster in free agency, they can use the draft to get the best player available who can earn a starting job, but will not be forced to be productive from day one.
When you look at the Chiefs' picks and their current roster, it is really fun to imagine all of the possibilities for what they could do come draft day. But there will only be one reality, and today I take a look at what the Chiefs need to do to get the most value from their draft picks this offseason.
Spend at Least 2 Top-75 Picks in the Trenches
As of right now, the Chiefs' most pressing need seems to be the defensive line, especially on the interior next to Chris Jones. The team is all but guaranteed to spend one of their top three picks on defensive tackle, but the additions at the line should not end there.
Despite adding Jaylon Moore, and placing the franchise tag on Trey Smith, I am still not in love with the state of the offensive line going into next season. The Chiefs are counting on Kingsley Suamataia to move to guard and be effective, and will be heavily reliant on two risky offensive tackles to protect Patrick Mahomes.
All offseason, I have mentioned the concerns I have with the Chiefs offensive line, especially at tackle. Jawaan Taylor has struggled with penalties and inconsistency and Jaylon Moore has minimal experience on the blindside. While the hope is that these guys will step up next season, the Chiefs should use the draft to get some insurance in case of injury or poor play on the outside of the line.
The Chiefs can also use some help in their defensive end room, and if someone jumps out to them, they could consider taking a swing on the edge. But regardless of position, adding guys to the offensive or defensive line is tough, and it is hard to find top talent later in the draft. The Chiefs will need to invest in the trenches, and if they are serious about building at the line of scrimmage, they will need to invest early.
Don't Force the Issue at Running Back or Wide Receiver
Every year we see teams reach for offensive weapons, and more often than not, it hurts them in the long run. It is very easy for fans to be distracted and fall in love with the fun, shiny weapons on the offense who can do cool things with the ball in their hands. Teams often do the same thing and will spend picks on weapons earlier than they should so that they can get their guy.
This year's RB and WR class is deep and has plenty of players who will be available on Day 3 or late on Day 2, who can contribute immediately. The hit rate on running backs and wide receivers on Day 3 is significantly higher than almost any other position in the draft. If the Chiefs are going to go out and add a receiver or a running back, they can wait and let guys fall to them later in the draft.
The Chiefs have other needs, especially up on the line of scrimmage, that need to be addressed earlier in the draft. They can not fall into the trap of reaching for a fun weapon rather than building at the line of scrimmage first.