Kansas City Chiefs: 2020 NFL Draft Big Board 1.0

Targets for Round One (Pick 32)

With just five picks going into the draft and a roster that is set to get much more expensive, it is very important for the Kansas City Chiefs to nail this first pick to help improve their roster in hopes of returning to the Super Bowl again next year.

I have seen 10+ different prospects going to the Chiefs so far in mock drafts that I have read so far this year and out of those players, there were a few guys that stood out as guys who have been selected by the Chiefs in multiple mocks. The four most common picks for the Chiefs seem to be Patrick Queen, Kenneth Murray, A.J. Terrell, and D’Andre Swift.

Although there have been some mock drafts floating around that have the Chiefs selecting a running back in the first round, including more than one linking the Chiefs to Swift, that’s not happening guys. Don’t fall for it. It seems much more likely that the Chiefs would target a cornerback or linebacker here.

So let’s look at some potential targets for the last pick in the first round.

1. Kenneth Murray, LB Oklahoma

The Chiefs have had their struggles at the linebacker position over the past few seasons, but this could be the pick to get them their next Derrick Johnson.

Murray fits the mold of this defense very well. He is a high energy, hard-hitting player who loves to tackle. This would fit in well with the likes of Tyrann Mathieu who laid out a few hard hits throughout the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run.

Not only does he fit in with this team effort-wise, but he also could fill a big need for the Chiefs. Kansas City was a much improved defensive team last year, but linebacker was a weak spot for them and specifically a linebacker who can cover the pass.

Murray’s length and speed give him the potential to be a solid coverage linebacker and he flashed this potential at Oklahoma last year. He isn’t a perfect prospect of course. He has been seen on occasion overrunning plays and displays questionable decision-making at times as well, but he has a very high ceiling and has all the effort and physical gifts to potentially be a great player in the NFL.

The main concern with Murray though is if he will make it to pick 32. He has been going in the mid-20s in most mock drafts, so if he falls to pick 32, he will be an excellent option for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Interestingly, Murray is from Missouri City, Texas so clearly he’d fit right in with the Kansas City (Missouri) Chiefs.

2. Patrick Queen, LB LSU

Patrick Queen is another excellent linebacker prospect that could be in play for the Chiefs at 32. Queen’s draft position has been a little more all over the place than Murray’s. He can be seen in mock drafts coming off the board before pick 20 and in others, he is still available into the mid-second round.

So, will he be there at pick 32? Who knows, but if he is there he would be a great option for the Chiefs. He isn’t quite as impressive as Murray physically, but he does have great speed and brings the same type of effort as Murray does. He also appears to be well ahead of Murray when it comes to coverage abilities, which may make him an even better fit for the Chiefs.

Queen’s athleticism and coverage abilities are probably his most attractive trait, but he is in no means a liability in the run game. He is probably slightly underweight for an NFL linebacker, but tackles very well. He doesn’t shy away from hits and he finishes well.

Dorian O’Daniel is a player who many Chiefs fans had/have high hopes of becoming a great coverage backer for the Chiefs. Coach Spagnuolo didn’t seem to have much confidence in O’Daniel on defense, so maybe they will look toward Queen to fill that role. Queen is much less undersized than O’Daniel and projects to be a better overall prospect. He would look great in a Chiefs uniform next year.