Kansas City Chiefs: Wish list for 2019 NFL Draft
By John McCarty
Tyre Brady, Wide Receiver, Marshall
Perhaps few players projected in the third day of the draft has received apparently as much interest from the Chiefs as Marshall receiver Tyre Brady has. Teammate of current Chiefs backup quarterback Chase Litton, Brady is a physically imposing receiver with strong hands and an impressive set of overall skills.
Brady originally signed with Miami (FL) out of high school, but transferred to Marshall, and had an impressive junior season with Litton throwing to him. His senior season was not as great, as the quarterback play suffered. While I’m not sure if Brady is for sure a Chiefs pick, it’s apparent the team is a big fan of his and are looking to add depth to the position with all the question marks surrounding the position long-term.
Josh Oliver, Tight End, San Jose State
An athletic tight end prospect from a small school, Josh Oliver can do a lot of the receiving responsibilities of a tight end, having lined up both inline and in the slot. His blocking needs work, as he rarely was asked to be a a lead blocker, often containing the backside.
Route running will need some refinement, as in the college was simply asked to run up the field and look for the ball. In the NFL, Oliver will need to work on and be far better at the nuances of route running to create separation and openings. If the Chiefs are unable to get a tight end during the first two days of the draft, Oliver is an interesting developmental option.
Corey Ballentine, Cornerback, Washburn
Local product (Washburn is just west on I-70 in Topeka), Corey Ballentine is an intriguing small school product that tested well and performed well at the Senior Bowl and has the size the NFL is looking for at the position.
Willing to tackle and fluid athlete, the Topeka product has a lot of the tools the Chiefs could be looking for. Ballentine also returned kickoffs for the Ichabods during his career. He ikely will need a year before he can truly make an impact, but is a prospect who athletically can develop.