That’s REAL nice.

Appreciably better than Jalen Royals or Jaylin Noel that you might get in round 2? Or what about a Tory Horton, Isaiah Bond, or Kyle Williams in round 3? I mean, I really like Egbuka and would love him on the Chiefs, but I also look at this being our #3 WR/Slot and where we're taking that guy from a value standpoint.

Meanwhile, I don't think we handwave consideration for some really good CBs like Azareye'h Thomas, Trey Amos, or Shavon Revel.. Sure, not a ton of snaps in 2024 sans an injury, but you have a starter next year and beyond. You can't just dismiss the future and look at the now.

What about a LB? Would Carson Schwesinger not move the needle substantially over Tranquil? Yeah, positional value might be a thing, but really exceptional LBs make a huge difference.

And then, Mason Taylor has firmly been a top-40 player throughout the process. He is a really good TE. He will be a #1 TE in this league. Gray is a great complementary piece. I love him as a #2. I don't think he's going to be the next in a lineage of great TEs here. Taylor could be.

And if TreVeyon Henderson is sitting there, as much as there are a ton of great backs in this draft, there is not a more perfect match for Andy Reid and what he likes to do with that position. He would probably see as many or more targets in the passing game as a slot WR would. That kid would turn Reid back into the kid in the candy store that made this offense great. In Brian Westbrook's heyday, he had 73-703-6, 61-616-4, 77-699-4, 90-771-5, and 54-402-5. A couple of those seasons he also rushed for over 1200 yards. Henderson can have that type of passing game impact.

I am not firmly on the WR in Round 1 bandwagon.

I think I just talked myself into Henderson as my 1B to Conerly over Tuimoloau.

I mentioned it elsewhere Crow, but what I've been finding is that I'm not always getting Royals in R2 and I'd need to do a little more work to talk myself into Noel at the back of 2.

Now IF Royals fell to 63, you might be onto something. Something like Conerly/Grant and Royals would very possibly be as good/better than Egbuka/Burden and Ersery/Burch/Sanders (or however that games out).

But it has just been my experience that I like what's available to me in the 2nd at DL/OL better than what's usually there for me at WR. And again into the 3rd round when I know have a weapon and a trench player with another trench player on the other side of the ball calling for me with that Titans pick or even a secondary player.

I just like the way those drafts tend to go a bit better.

You know how much I love Henderson -- I think I may have been first on him 'round here (you not withstanding as an Ohio State guy).

He's been my RB2 in the draft, at least for the Chiefs, the entire time.

But I just can't. I can't get there in the 1st round. It's dogmatic, I know. I just can't talk myself into it.

I would like an Edge, DT, WR, a tackle only if one of the top that didn't have a knee injury falls to us or in range of us

Have I taught you nothing by taking Jahmyr Gibbs in the CP mock 2 years ago?

:P

A 2,000-yard, 20 TD RB might not be what Henderson becomes, but he certainly might be a guy that can get you 1500-1700 regularly.

Well you shouldn't have spent so damn much time talking me into Trevor Etienne!

LOL. I really like Etienne a lot. I think he has some serious potential in a similar role.

Just less of a true 3-down guy, right? You’d need to pair him with someone who can help shoulder the load, probably a less versatile receiving back with some umph for short-yardage, and make the offense a little more predictable based on personnel.

Henderson would present the opportunity to unlock the offense on all 3 downs…

Felt a little stuck at 95 but...sheesh.

https://i.ibb.co/g02N6j1/Screenshot-...7-34-06-AM.png

I like this.

I find myself usually taking a trade down or making one, on this sim engine, at one of 63 or 66 and sometimes again at 95.

Usually can pick up another pick in the 100s and a nice pick in the future with that combo.

Me thinks you guys are WAY too high on Norman-Lott. Probably late 3rd to 4th guy. Definitely not a 2nd rounder IMHO.

One thing about this sim - it doesn't seem to matter whether the slider is set to predictable or chaotic - I have pretty much the same options every time.

That's totally fair. His size limitations probably cap his ceiling, right?

Etienne isn't much smaller than Henderson, but I don't know how much pounding he can do on first and second down. Henderson can't either, but I believe he can shoulder more of that load than Etienne. Henderson is a better player in all facets and has more experience than Etienne.

Size/length to be an every-down player, and his lack of experience is probably a hindrance. Ty Hamilton is a very similar player in the same range.

So let's game it.

I think we have to take Nolen and Harmon out of the equation for the sake of discussion, because I believe we are both in the camp that "In the unlikely event either of them fall to 31, you take him without blinking" right?

So we're really talking WR vs. RB.

Option A) Henderson and Dike/Lane
Option B) Burden and Etienne

I think I far prefer B.

And I know that's not an entirely fair exercise because you could obviously go WR in round 2 and get Noel, but the sort of shell gaming required for that makes a real comparison pretty tough.

The only real way to do it is to try the ceteris paribus game, take the pick previously used on a RB on a WR and the pick previously used on a WR on a RB.

Otherwise you're just playing around with the same argument I started with -- notably that I think the drafts tend to go a little better on balance when I attack the WR position in R1 with Burden or Egbuka.

I kinda like Parrish in that range. My concern is ultimately redundancy. He's a little undersized; makes me wonder if he can really operate on the boundary. McDuffie can while being a little shorter than ideal, but he's also just an awesome player.

Parrish is a hell of an athlete and can probably be a very good NCB...but that does take some of the starch out of the value of McDuffie locking down that slot himself. And puts him back out to boundary where he's merely very good instead of elite.

I think what I might prefer do is take Darien Porter at 63 instead of Burch, then Royals, then backfill with Kennard, Gillotte or Oladejo at 95.

Porter fascinates the hell out of me.

31
Malaki Starks
S | Georgia
B+
63
Tre Harris
WR | Mississippi
B+
73
Princely Umanmielen
EDGE | Mississippi
A+
95
Shemar Turner
DL | Texas A&M
A+
108
Anthony Belton
OT | NC State
A+
110
Dylan Sampson
RB | Tennessee
A+
133
Jamaree Caldwell
DL | Oregon
B+
213
Dont'e Thornton
WR | Tennessee
C+
226
Cam Jackson
DL | Florida
B+
251
Tommi Hill
CB | Nebraska
A+
257
Luke Lachey
TE | Iowa

In a complete vacuum, option B looks superior to option A in terms of likely total net yards those players will accumulate but I'm not so sure that's the truth.

How much better would Henderson be over Etienne in all facets? Will he be? If you project based on collegiate production, Henderson should be better at a ratio of 3:2. You also need to consider the current makeup of this football team and the profound impact a RB like Henderson can make immediately versus a WR. Henderson is already an A+ blocker. That helps your issues at OT and that helps your QB even when he isn't catching passes. Etienne is a solid blocker but he's not Henderson in that regard. He's more like a B-.

If I look at Burden v Dike, my preference of your two options, I'd say that this ratio of 3:2 holds for them as well if we assume Burden is more like his 2023 self.

You should also consider the effect on special teams that any of these guys can make. All of them have some experience as returners, but I think the guy who most moves the needle there is Dike. If you went the Lane route, he also moves the needle substantially on special teams.

While Burden/Etienne could have a larger offensive impact, I think Henderson/Dike could have a similar one. I think there is a bonus that Dike will contribute in all facets of special teams, especially as both a punt and kick returner.

OK, here's my last one of the season.

Stuck to sticktothemodel for this. It's the best one I've found.

In this one, we imagine what it looks like if the Chiefs just stay put at 31 and take what the board brings em.

1.31 Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri.
This is a "this week" evolution for me, but seeing the way boards are projected to go, it made the most sense. Also available: Tyler Booker, (ha), Josh Conerly. Nolen, Harmon, Egbuka, Simmons all off the board.

2.63 Trade: Raiders were desperate to come up and take Jalen Milroe, I net 3.68 and 4.108


3.66 Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia
Ratledge is a huge dude with tremendous athleticism for the G spot. 40, 10 and 20 splits are all elite-elite, as is his lateral agility and explosion. He increase the competition at LG, gives them insurance if they need to move on from Trey Smith in some way or after this season, and on the chance that Suamataia develops or Moore solidifies his ownership of LT, he could move to LG full-time, too, even if he doesn't win the job this year.

3.68 Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon.
Really liking Burch of late. The size/speed/athleticism/strength are a rare combo. He's big like a Spags DE, but has a lot more twitch and bend. Gimme.


3.85 Trade: 3.95, 4.133 to TB for 3.85) Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky.
As I was watching the board, Farmer and Walker were both sitting out there. I decided to move up to ensure I land one of the last DTs from that tier. Could have taken Farmer here, but I see a lot of similarities with Walker and Chris Jones. He's an insane athlete for his size. Needs to improve his stamina, but can two-gap AND is way quicker than someone this big and strong should be. He had an injury as a junior that has knocked his stock down a bit, but he's got large upside. Plus, who doesn't like the idea of lining up 13 ft of DT, between him and Jones?

4.108 Trade: With the second piece received from the Raiders, I trade back to add another Day 3 pick, receiving 4.117 and 5.151 from Indianapolis.
4.117Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia.
Happy with Etienne, who is a really nice fit in KC's offense as the 3rd down back/receiving back..

5.151 Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Oregon
I like Bassa's athleticism and speed at LB. He's a sound tackler, runs well, and has more coverage ability than other folks in KC's room. Hopefully he can sneak into some of the nickel sets as a rookie.

7.226 Jason Marshall, Jr., CB, Florida
Marshall is a player I've thought was a KC-style CB. He has all the tools KC likes - size, speed, leaping ability - but has been developed poorly by the Florida coaching circus during his time in Gainesville. I see a guy with the tools that KC's excellent coaching staff can do something with. And with McDuffie, Watson, Fulton, and Williams all in KC for 2025, the Chiefs have some time here. Maybe they get Marshall to start realizing his potential, and when Watson and Williams walk after this year, Marshall is ready to step in?

7.251 Jaequez Hunter, RB, Auburn
This is really just a BPA/value pick. Hunter's ability to break tackles and gain yards after contact is intriguing. Potential Pacheco replacement in 2026.

7.226 Adin Huntington, DL, Tulane
Lot of Tershawn Wharton in this guy. Little undersized for DT, but super, super athletic.

Post-mock depth chart:

QB: Mahomes/Minshew (Oladukon, PS)
RB: Pacheco/Hunt/Etienne (Mitchell can't stay healthy in TC and is cut; Hunter, Steele to PS)
WR: Rice, Worthy, Brown/Burden, Smith-Schuster, Remigio (Skyy Moore is cut)
TE: Kelce/Gray/Hendershot (Wiley starts year on PUP)
OT: Moore, Taylor/Morris
OG: Suamataia, Smith/Ratledge, Nourzad, Caliendo
C: Humphrey/Hanson

Offense:24 players

DE: Omenihu, Karlaftis/Anudike-Uzomah, Danna, Burch (Robinson, Harring, Thompson to PS)
DT: Jones, Pennel/Tillery, Walker, yet-to-be-signed FA, (Huntington to PS)

LB: Bolton, Tranquill, Chenal/Bassa, Cochrane, Jones

CB: McDuffie, Watson, Fulton/Williams, Johnson, Roland-Wallace (for ST) (Marshall to PS)
S: Hicks, Cook/Conner, Edwards

Defense: 26

K: Butker
P: Araiza
LS: Winchester

There's my final 53. Can certainly quibble over a few spots at the end of the depth chart and who they would keep/who would hit the PS.

Receiving weapons get an upgrade in depth and nice coverage for potential Rice suspension, Brown injury, and position the weapons well moving forward.

Etienne gives them more juice back at RB. Add a bunch of size and athleticism to the roster.

Woke up and can’t get back to sleep.

I’d be thrilled if the next rounds went like this.

Love it, except for the Bond pick. Isn’t he persona non grata now?