2018 NFL Mock Draft: Kansas City Chiefs go heavy on defense

ROUND 2: PICK 22 (54TH OVERALL) – JOSEY JEWELL, ILB (IOWA)

When push comes to shove, the Kansas City Chiefs have two main areas they desperately need to address. Those are at cornerback and at linebacker, more specifically at inside linebacker. This is why they decide to make Josey Jewell out of Iowa their first pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Before we get into Jewell’s career at Iowa, let’s dive into why the Chiefs need an inside linebacker. The easiest explanation is that Derrick Johnson aged big time this past season and it’s time to look at replacing him. The team added Reggie Ragland from the Bills, which was a nice move, but the Chiefs have to keep adding pieces here.

Stopping the run was a big problem for the Chiefs last year (and years prior) and Jewell could help out with that. Almquist called Jewell “One of the best all around football players in the entire draft” in his first draft board, which is high praise for the young linebacker.

Jewell was awarded the 2017 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award and it was well deserved. He played all four years for the Hawkeyes and totaled 433 tackles (28 for loss), ten sacks, six interceptions, and forced three fumbles.

With inside linebacker being a big time need for the Chiefs, don’t be shocked to see them grab one with their first pick in the draft. If Josey Jewell is still on the board at pick 54, the Chiefs need to snatch him up.