Sports Illustrated has KC Chiefs selecting Stanford corner in first round

The KC Chiefs will need a lot of help in the 2020 NFL Draft and Sports Illustrated predicts them going with a cornerback in the first round next April.

The pick is (sort of) in and the Kansas City Chiefs are going with Paulson Adebo out of Stanford, per Kevin Hanson of Sports Illustrated. Hanson conducted a 2020 NFL Mock Draft and decided to have the Chiefs address their secondary.

This could come as a surprise to some if it were to actually happen, as the Chiefs’ secondary hasn’t been as much of a weakness as it has been in years past. Charvarius Ward has played well in his second season in Kansas City, but the Chiefs will need to add depth at cornerback for sure, as Bashaud Breeland and Morris Claiborne are both on one-year deals while Kendall Fuller is set to hit free agency.

Hanson noted all of that in his blurb, but here’s everything he had to say about his choice,

More from Chiefs Draft Analysis

• Will Chiefs Draft Western Kentucky Hilltopper DeAngelo Malone?
• The Kansas City Chiefs Address Defense with This Mock Draft
• Will Chiefs Take Boston College Cornerback?
• The Kansas City Chiefs 2022 Mock Draft Roundup 1.0
• Why The Chiefs Should Draft Wide Receiver Christian Watson

"The Chiefs pass defense ranks eighth in the NFL (221.4 yards per game allowed), but Kendall Fuller, Bashaud Breeland, Morris Claiborne and Keith Reiser are scheduled for unrestricted free agency. The 6′ 1″ Adebo’s ball skills have led to four interceptions in back-to-back seasons with a total of 27 passes defended."

If the Chiefs opted to go with Adebo, they’d be getting someone who could force turnovers and that’d be a needed boost to the secondary. His eight picks in two seasons (to this point – He could end the 2019 season with a few more) have shown that he has a knack to getting to the football.

The KC Chiefs need to do whatever it takes to revamp this defense and get a respectable unit on the field. That’s the only way this team can truly take the next step. Their offense is lethal, but the defense has held them back, so adding best available talent – no matter where it is- is a good strategy.

Something that I’m weary of with Adebo is that he’s only a two-year starter at cornerback for Stanford. He could opt to return for his senior season, but if he doesn’t, he doesn’t have as much experience as some of the other corners in the draft will. He still has a few more game this year, so Chiefs fans should start keeping an eye out for him to see if he’s a fit for this secondary next year and beyond.

While the Kansas City Chiefs have a lot of needs to address this offseason, no one would be upset at them adding a good, young corner who can actually tackle and can force turnovers. That’s hopefully what Paulson Adebo could provide should this end up being the pick less than six months from now.

What would you think of this selection?