KC Chiefs move up to select Jaelan Phillips in latest NFL.com mock draft

The KC Chiefs trading out of the first round in the 2021 NFL Draft wouldn’t be a shock, but would they potentially trade up? They do in the latest mock draft from NFL.com.

Earlier this week, I wrote about a mock draft where the Kansas City Chiefs made the decision to move out of the first round. They swapped picks with the Patriots, moving from the end of the first round into the Patriots’ spot in the second round.

This time around, a mock draft has the Chiefs being the ones to get aggressive and move up, as Chad Reuter of NFL.com has KC going from pick No. 31 to pick No. 25 (which belongs to Jacksonville) and selecting Miami EDGE rusher Jaelan Phillips.

"Phillips played a strong power end for Miami in 2020, showing the ability to rush the passer and corral ball-carriers on the edge. That’s an element the team will need if Tanoh Kpassagnon, Taco Charlton and Alex Okafor depart as free agents. Andy Reid might be willing to give up fourth- and fifth-round selections to secure his services, especially if Kansas City receives selections in those rounds as compensation for 2020 free agent losses."

This would be interesting, that’s for sure. We’ve seen the Chiefs be aggressive in the first round in years past, with the most famous example being when they traded up from pick No. 28 to pick No. 10 to acquire Patrick Mahomes.

This wouldn’t be quite as big of a move, as it’d have them moving up six spots as opposed to 18 spots and it also wouldn’t be for a quarterback. The Chiefs would be getting themselves a beast on the defensive side of the ball though and that’d be exciting.

Jaelan Phillips would be a welcomed addition to the KC Chiefs’ pass rush.

Phillips finished his senior season with 45 tackles (15.5 for loss), eight sacks, three defended passes, and one interception in 10 games. He played just one season with the Hurricanes, as he actually spent the first two years of his college career at UCLA, but wasn’t on the field much due to issues with his ankle, wrist, and concussions, per The Draft Network.

This would be a big selection for the Chiefs. They’d have to give up a lot to move up just six spots, but if Phillips put on a performance anywhere close to what he did in 2020, it’d be worth it. The Chiefs need to upgrade their pass rush tremendously this offseason and Jaelan Phillips would give them a chance to do so.

What do you think of this decision, Chiefs fans? Would you be okay with the Chiefs moving up in the draft and how would you feel if they did so for Jaelan Phillips?