[Hoover]

Pick 23 – FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama

Height: 6-1. Weight: 209. 

Projected 40 Time: 4.60. 

Projected Round (2014): 1-2. 


12/21/13: Clinton-Dix has 45 tackles, two interceptions and four passes broken up this year. He played well against Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, LSU and Mississippi State. Clinton-Dix was suspended for two games for taking a loan from an assistant, but Nick Saban reinstated him before the games against Arkansas. Clinton-Dix didn't have his best game against Auburn as he got caught on a few misdirection runs. 

Clinton-Dix did some damage to his draft stock when he landed that then-indefinite suspension for taking a loan from an Alabama assistant. A week before his suspension, Clinton-Dix was excellent against Ole Miss in deep coverage on the Rebels' talented wide receivers. He had eight tackles and was very active. 

8/18/13: Clinton-Dix had a breakout season in 2012 as a platoon player following Mark Barron's departure for the NFL. Clinton-Dix totaled 37 tackles with five interceptions, four passes broken up and a forced fumble. 

Clinton-Dix is very good in pass coverage as a deep defender and roving free safety. He covers a lot of ground, defends big receivers and has ball skills. The junior is expected to be the difference-maker in the Alabama secondary this year now that Robert Lester has moved on to the NFL, too. 

The Crimson Tide has produced a lot of good defensive backs, and Clinton-Dix looks like the next star to come out of Alabama's secondary with his combination of size and speed. The Orlando, Florida product was top recruit coming out of high school.

Why I picked him: Finding a FS is the most important thing on the Chiefs to-do list this off season. Dix is the best of the bunch and makes a ton of sense for the Chiefs. However, if Eric Ebron was available at 23 I’d probably take him over Dix, and aim to draft someone like Pryor in the 3rd. This is a tricky draft for the Chiefs as its going to be difficult for them to pass on a player like Dix if he’s there because of the need they have at his position, which is why he was my top pick.

Pick 87 – OT James Hurst, UNC

Height: 6-7. Weight: 310. 

Projected 40 Time: 5.25. 

Projected Round (2014): 2-3. 


1/6/14: Unfortunately for Hurst, he broke his left leg in the bowl game against Cincinnati. The injury will unfortunately knock him out of the Senior Bowl and Combine. 

Hurst answered doubters with a solid performance against Jadeveon Clowney in the season opener. Hurst won their one-on-ones and kept Clowney from getting to the quarterback. Hurst did a good job against speed-rushers this season and looks like a technician as a pass-protector. However, he was beaten for a sack on a speed rush by Georgia Tech's Jeremiah Attaochu. 

Overall though, Hurst was good in pass protection. Still, he could use more power for moving defenders at the point of attack. 

8/9/13: Hurst is a sleeper prospect who could rise up the rankings. He has great length to go along with good athleticism. Hurst enters his senior season having been a 3-year starter for North Carolina. 

Hurst had a strong 2012 campaign protecting the blind side of Bryn Renner. Star guard Jonathan Cooper formed an excellent left side of the line with Hurst. Cooper has said that Hurst helped him to a lot of his collegiate success. Hurst is said to be extremely intelligent. He always knows what to do and where to be, and directs his teammates accordingly. Hurst was a strong run-blocker for Giovani Bernard last year. 

The senior has the opportunity to make an immediate statement this season and electrify his draft stock. North Carolina's 2013 season opener is South Carolina, which will match up Hurst against phenom defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. If Hurst plays well against Clowney, the Tar Heel could help make the case to be a first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. It will be all downhill for Hurst after he gets by Clowney. 

Hurst was a freshman sensation in 2010. He started 12 games at left tackle and graded out at a high level. The sophomore stayed in the lineup in 2011 and had a good season blocking for Bernard.

Why I picked him: Flame away. I’m a proud o-line homer, but this is a position of need since we basically have nothing behind Fischer and Stephenson assuming Schwartz is resigned to become our starting guard. Remember, this is a late third round pick and there is tremendous value at OT.

Pick 120 – DE Taylor Hart, Oregon

Height: 6-6. Weight: 292. 

Projected 40 Time: 5.04. 

Projected Round (2014): 2-4. 


12/14/13: The senior has played well in 2013 with 64 tackles, five tackles for a loss and three sacks. Early in the year, he had limited playing time because Oregon blew out so many opponents. Hart had an excellent game against Oregon State to close out the regular season. He is slated to play in the East-West Shrine. 

8/12/13: Hart led the Ducks in sacks last year with eight. He also chipped in 36 tackles with 11 tackles for a loss, three passes batted and a forced fumble. It was his second season as a starter. Hart totaled 44 tackles with 2.5 sacks, three tackles for a loss, two passes broken up and a forced fumble in 2011. He registered 18 tackles and two sacks as a freshman backup.

Why I picked him: Chiefs must let Tyson Jackson walk and thus become very thin at the position. While he’s somewhat of a project, but would fit well in our defensive scheme.

Pick 151 – WR Tevin Reese, Baylor

Height: 5-10. Weight: 170. 

Projected 40 Time: 4.40. 

Projected Round (2014): 3-5.

12/21/13: Reese was well on his way to his best season of a good collegiate career before undergoing season-ending wrist surgery. In his seven-game season, he caught 33 passes for 824 yards with eight touchdowns. The speedster averaged 25 yards per catch. The senior went over 100 yards in five games. In the other two contests, Reese contributed 97 yards and 75 yards. For the NFL, he looks like a speedy slot receiver who can burn defenses vertically. 

Reese was the secondary receiver to Terrance Williams in 2012, but Reese still caught 53 passes for 957 yards and nine touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2011, he was the third receiver behind Williams and Kendall Wright. With Robert Griffin III at quarterback, Reese caught 51 passes for 877 yards and seven scores. He had 45 receptions for 401 yards as a freshman.

Why I picked him: We are drafting a WR somewhere in this draft. Not having our 2nd round pick really hurts us, but I believe WR is the one place where we will invest some FA money, which means we are going to take a developmental WR in the draft.

Pick 184 – OG Chris Watt, Notre Dame

Height: 6-4. Weight: 304. 

Projected 40 Time: 5.05. 

Projected Round (2014): 1-2. 


1/6/14: The Fighting Irish got an excellent season out of Martin. He was very good in pass protection with an impressive ability to adjust against blitzers off the edge. Martin performed well in the ground game, too. He could be this year's Justin Pugh. 

Martin finished the regular season in impressive fashion as he shut down the nation's leader in sacks with Stanford's Trent Murphy. Martin won his won-on-wons and kept Murphy from making plays in the backfield. It was an excellent game. He also was dominant in the Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers. If Martin were a little bigger, he would be a sure-fire first-rounder. 

8/9/13: Martin improved as the 2012 season progressed. The junior did a good job of contributing to a sound running offense. Martin's pass protection got better and he was much improved over 2011. Martin and Notre Dame struggled in pass protection against Stanford last year and were less than impressive against Alabama. 

Martin will see some quality opponents this year, but if the senior plays well, he could give NFL teams reason to believe that he could stay at tackle as a pro. Martin probably has short arms for his size. If he struggles on the edge, he could be better off playing guard in a zone-blocking system in the NFL. He also could get consideration at right tackle. It would help him to add more strength for the next level. 

Even though the Fighting Irish had a low sacks-allowed total in 2011, Martin, the team's left tackle, was inconsistent. The sophomore had stretches where he was been beaten and allowing too much pressure on his quarterback. 


Why I picked him: The Chiefs are going to let Albert and Asaomoah walk, which makes us incredibly thin on the offensive line. Watt is a good prospect and someone who can play right away if needed.

Pick 215 – ILB James Morris, Iowa

Height: 6-2. Weight: 230. 

Projected 40 Time: 4.63. 

Projected Round (2014): 4-6. 


12/21/13: Morris has played really well for Iowa. He has 99 tackles with 15.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks, three passes broken up, four interceptions and a forced fumble this season. 

8/14/13: Morris had 113 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, four pass breakups and an interception in 2012. He was a solid player, but wasn't a play-maker. 

Morris made 70 tackles with 2.5 tackles for a loss and four passes broken up in 2010. He had 110 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss and one interception in 2011. Morris has good instincts, but looks short on size and speed. If the senior doesn't add around 10 pounds, he will have to move to outside linebacker in the NFL. That could be a better fit for him anyway.

Why I picked him: I love this kid, he’s a four year starter who I think is a solid pick in the 6th round. He and Nico Johnson would pair together well in the future. I’m worried about how long DJ remains in red and gold. I love the guy, but this is a position where I could see the Chiefs trying to save some money with by going young.