Todd McShay predicts KC Chiefs will take Derion Kendrick in 2021 NFL Draft

The KC Chiefs need help on defense, so drafting a cornerback could make sense.

Todd McShay revealed his predictions for every first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft (ESPN Insider subscription required) and had the Kansas City Chiefs taking Derion Kendrick of Clemson with the No. 32 pick. Kendrick’s 2020 season resulted in him recording 18 tackles, six defended passes, one sack, and one interception.

There has been some buzz that Kendrick could return to Clemson for his senior year, which wouldn’t be shocking considering they missed the National Championship for the first time in his career and it could give him a chance to have a true final college football season. If he does forego his senior season, however, the Chiefs would be lucky to have Kendrick on board.

The Chiefs’ secondary is improving and they look to really have something special with L’Jarius Sneed, their fourth-round rookie. If Sneed continues to play at a high level and Bashaud Breeland does indeed re-sign for 2021, adding Kendrick would make this secondary pretty dang good.

The KC Chiefs could use another cornerback and Derion Kendrick would be a nice addition.

If Kendrick was the pick, he’d the first player born after 2000 to be drafted by the Chiefs. That makes me feel incredibly old, but hey, if he can play, bring him to Kansas City. Clemson has had many first-round picks go on to do great things in the NFL and Kendrick could be the next Clemson great for sure.

The Chiefs need to consistently be drafting cornerbacks because it always seems to be an area of need for them. That makes sense too, considering how pass-happy the NFL is. Teams need to have good secondaries to prevent their opponents from throwing on them all day long.

There’s still a long way to go until the draft, but Derion Kendrick is the kind of player who could do really well in Kansas City. The team could also spend their first-rounder on a linebacker, offensive lineman, tight end, or running back, but no one would complain if they went with a cornerback.

How would you feel about the Kansas City Chiefs selecting Derion Kendrick with their first-round pick?