The Kansas City Chiefs 2022 Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

Chiefs’ fans can officially say the offseason is here with the Pro Bowl weekend coming to a close. People who can not let go of football will continue to scout players, look at highlight tape, and prepare mock drafts for the up-and-coming NFL draft. The Kansas City Chiefs will select at No. 30, and there are plenty of different directions KC could go.

The front office and the coaching staff are crunching numbers and evaluating their payroll as they prepare for the 2022-23 season. According to Tom Pelissero, the NFL anticipates the 2022-23 salary cap to jump to $208.2 million.  This is an increase of roughly $25.7 million from the previous season.  The Chiefs will make trades, and free-agent signings will occur, which could adjust the salary cap along with the needs in the draft. The glaring needs for Kansas City are wide receiver, edge rusher, safety, and defensive lineman.

This will be the first of a series of Mock Draft Roundups and will have an array of different viewpoints from analysts across multiple networks. I will provide my thoughts on the pick selection.  This should be a fun series leading all the way up to the draft which begins on Thursday, April 28th and ends on Saturday, April 30th.  It will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada after missing out due to Covid-19.

Joe Marino- The Draft Network

Pick No. 30: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

"“With the edge rushers snatched up, the Kansas City Chiefs can turn their attention to the secondary. In this scenario, they land the top safety on the board, which is a critical need if Tyrann Mathieu isn’t back. Daxton Hill is a versatile defender that is reminiscent of Darnell Savage. He is an outstanding athlete that is physical with good ball skills. He can play in deep zones, man coverage from the slot, and be that “rat in the hole” defender for Kansas City that made Mathieu so impactful.”"

Takeaway: Marino nailed this pick selection from not only a player standpoint but also a fit for the Chiefs. There is a possibility Kansas City moves on from safety Tyrann Mathieu, and if they do, this pick makes complete sense. Hill has been regarded as the top safety in the draft standing at 6’0″, weighing 192 lbs. One of the biggest takeaways is his versatility to play multiple positions. He can play single-high free safety, corner, nickel, and dime linebacker. These are all similar traits to Tyrann Mathieu. Hill is very quick running 4.3 in the 40-yard dash and is not afraid to tackle.

Dalton Miller- Pro Football Network

Pick No. 30: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State

"“Jaquan Brisker is the exact type of do-it-all safety the NFL will be looking for as more teams begin playing almost exclusively from two-high looks. He flies forward against the run and has the juice to drive forward as a robber. His size is ideal for the position, and it allows him to play with physicality reserved for those with his frame. It also helps him as a run blitzer. He’s better playing forward, but he’s no slouch as a half-field safety, either. Brisker doesn’t have the fluidity of Hamilton, but he moves well. When he keys things properly, he can get wherever he needs to in a hurry.”"

Takeaway: Sticking with the safety position another top-end talent from Penn State, Jaquan Brisker. Brisker is a very talented, well-rounded player and is anticipated to be a starting free safety in the NFL. He can be used in multiple coverages but has an aggressive blitz attack. He stands at 6’1″, weighing 200 lbs. A big takeaway for me is his ability to tackle. He is not afraid to lay the boom and even recorded six tackles-for-a-loss this past season.

Kyle Stackpole-CBS Sports

Pick No. 30: Jermaine Johnson II, Edge, Florida State

"“Join me in welcoming Johnson to the first round. He had one of the best Senior Bowl weeks of anyone, but let’s not forget that he posted 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss this past season at Florida State. The productivity matches the skill set for a prospect who should continue to turn heads during the draft process.”"

Takeaway: I am beyond ecstatic to see Jermaine Johnson being mocked by the Chiefs, as I recently wrote an article on him selected by Kansas City. Johnson fills a significant need for a team that currently has four edge rushers on the roster. Johnson participated in the Reese’s Senior Bowl and has been climbing mock drafts. He stands at 6’5″, and weighs 265 lbs. He fits the schemes of 4-3 defensive end or a 3-4 outside linebacker. His first step off the snap is note-worthy, and he can flat out get after it. In his final season with the Seminoles, Johnson recorded 70 total tackles, 18 tackles-for-a-loss, and 12 sacks.