Give me your true dark horse pick at 31
 

Mine is Bryan Bresee.

- a lot of upside for an end of the 1st round pick

- only 21 years old (Veach loves younger prospects)

- flexibility with Chris Jones

- injury concerns, but these are the kinds of swings you have to take if you want a blue chipper

Meh... I dunno. So tough to pick one this year. I feel like I wanna say Gibbs but I'll go a bit more outside the box.

Keeanu Benton
- perfect size for NT but could also play 3T.
- 21 years old
- tremendous upside as a 1-gap penetrator that he didn't always get to unleash at UW
- alot of power and agility
- similar sack totals to Jeffery Simmons coming out with similar quickness to close

Not sure why I can't pick a white guy, but I'm going to say DE/DL AA from NW. Can't spell his name but you know who I mean. Doesn't get any darker than him.

Veach likes to lock up a young replacement at least a year before the need is there, should a veteran leave via FA. Since it's for round 1, it would most likely be for one of the below positions.

Could be:
- WR in the mold of MVS, if he leaves for FA
- TE for Kelce to guide for a few years
- NT for Nnadi's departure
- CB for Sneed, if he leaves for FA
- T: RT for Niang, if he's a brokedick, or if the Taylor to LT experiment is "meh"
- Edge for Danna/Herring/Kaindoh departures

I've been saying all along I think the pick is DT Mazi Smith, not a lot of pundits or fans projecting him to us but it's a real possibility.

The discourse on DT is wild. We are just awful at that position outside of Jones. It should be the consensus top need. Then OT or edge depending on how you view Niang/Kinnard.

I like some of the names in here, especially Mazi. I think Bresee is gone by 31, possibly long gone. There's SO much upside with him I think someone falls in love.

Dark Horse... Dark horse... Jahmyr Gibbs. Then Michael Wilson in the second.

I think they go DT in the 2nd or third really then pepper it like they did corner last year late. They really need a Nnadi replacement and you dont have to take that guy at 1 or really even 2.

Bryan Bresee, DT Clemson
or
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE Kansas State

I think Jahmyr Gibbs is a solid answer, would be surprising due to the failure of CEH + the Chiefs history of being able to find production in later rounds or free agents (Hunt, Pacheco, McKinnon, D. Williams). Gibbs skillset though would undoubtedly be a perfect match for the Chiefs offense.

Gervon Dexter is a name that I would add to the mix for defensive tackles. I think he's got a high ceiling, his size and athleticism are very appealing. His production and inconsistency leaves a lot to be desired but the physical tools are there. #31 to me is way too early but I really like his potential.

Another darkhorse position I think is tight end. Musgrave could fit the bill if the Chiefs think that rather than addressing the playmaker problem by drafting a receiver, perhaps Andy Reid can tweak the offense to lean on two athletic tight ends. Drafting a tight end would also give the Chiefs insurance for Kelce so they could somewhat run their standard offense in case of injury or simply trying to decrease Kelce's workload.

The tricky part about this draft is that I think the Chiefs are a great trade down candidate in the 1st but with the draft being in KC this year, I wonder if they will try to appease the fanbase by making that selection. The great thing about the Chiefs is that although edge, tackle and receiver are areas of need, I don't know if they are glaring weaknesses and the Chiefs have the ability to address those areas by drafting complimentary positions. For example, you can draft a defensive tackle and moonlight Chris Jones at edge on critical downs. Potentially drafting a playmaking tight end as I mentioned above and tweaking the offense with more 2 tight end personnel groups. Could the Chiefs even get away with drafting a guard like O'Cyrus Torrence (not a great fit since he played RG), and moving Thuney to one of the tackle positions?

The world is Veach's oyster- just draft good players and this team is going to succeed.

Mazi smith seems like a good fit at a position of need. I am sticking with DJ Turner as my dark horse candidate though. Again, this is a guy I think spags watches the tape on and pounds the table, despite our already amazing CB room.

I like the Gibbs pick also.

Veach knows though that as long as PMII is here we just need enough defense to keep oter teams at bay so I expect the focus to continue to be defense with a few splash players on O . Gibbs would make us better.

Pacheco,Gibbs, Mckinnon would be a monster backfield

What level of dark horse would Zacch Pickens be for you guys?

And before you ask if I'm totally crazy (I might be), I want you to compare his body of work and workouts to Devonte Wyatt who went at #28 overall last year. I've been very high on Pickens throughout the offseason so I want other opinions.

Just throwing one of those hmmm moments I've had when looking at some of these prospects.

Hmm, not sure, mainly because I don't see that level of talent but also I don't see a lot of commentary out there putting him this high. I just think Mazi Smith and Benton are much more likely if we go DT at 31.

I don't know that he doesn't. He was the top-ranked DT in the country coming out of high school, right, so you kind of know his pedigree coming into college. He was very good throughout his college career and he primarily played as a 1T. From a performance standpoint, he was far better than Mazi Smith and Keeanu Benton, or almost every DT in this class for that matter. Athletically, he didn't test all that differently from a former Veach guy in Fletcher Cox which brought me to think about Wyatt last year who tested similarly. Pickens was actually a bit more productive than Wyatt.

He's a prototypical 1-gap penetrating DT which fits perfectly into Spags' scheme. I see the talent, but he could stand to be a bit more consistent. I think he's a lot higher on the Chiefs' board than he is on the pundit boards. The only question I might have is how high is he on it. If I had the money I'd bet he's our 2nd round pick if he's sitting there at 63. But is he higher than that on the board? Interesting to think about.

I think if we wait for 31 we are going to end up with Michael Mayer or Datlton Kincaid


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Actually picking at 31 would be the true dark horse scenario.

If the draft were not in KC then I would say trading out of the 1st round to pick up more 2nd or 3rd picks while giving back some later round picks would be the most likely option.

Man Mayer is basically Jason Witten, I wouldn't thrilled.

Both I believe will be gone.

RB Bijan Robinson.

If he falls, we should take him.

Probably a top 3 talent in this draft.

No other more exciting pick for our Chiefs IMO.

I don't understand why people are interested in tight ends. We have at least four future hall of famers on the roster right now with Kelce, Gray, Bell, and Fortson. We're not going to cut one of those guys for a rookie.

We would have to move waaaayyyy up to get him, IMHO.

OT Bergeron. Can't see the Chiefs counting on Niang or Wanogho all season.

J Gibbs then.

I think we're all sleeping on how much of an impact McKinnon had, considering how much we relied on McKinnon last year.

Based only on position, I would go with a LT. Definitely a talent need combined with a rookie price tag.

Depending on how the board falls, he remains very difficult for me to pass on. He's so good with the ball in his hands.

If both available who do you take Quinton Johnston or Gibbs?

Tough call! I'd probably prefer Hyatt slightly to either, just because I think Andy gets more out of that type of player than any other coach in the league but very difficult decision between the 3 of them imo.

Here's a real dark horse... How about A.T. Perry?

Uhhhhh... why isn't this guy being considered a top 5'ish WR?

6'4 200+ lbs @ 4.47 40-yard dash!

2k+ yards and 26 TDs the last 2 seasons, avg 18.3 yards per catch in 2021.

What am I missing?

I just don't see a dark horse possibility unless it's an unexpected slide like Myles Murphy (similar to Karlaftis last season).

We've just beaten these options to death.

Crow's guy is about as dark horsey as I can figure because he's the only guy I rarely see mocked to KC but who could fit us well and is neither a reach (Perry) or someone who really has no chance of making it to us.

The rest of these options are either way too early or just wouldn't be that surprising. Some of the DTs are reasonable suggestions just not something I'd be enthusiastic about.

Johnston. I'm a lot higher on him than the pundits.

not sure about this

Maybe its PTSD but I see more Jon Baldwin than Tee Higgins.

Pros: He's big and has all the athletic traits. He has a nifty spin move after catch that lets him get YAC at the collegiate level. Terrific acceleration and deep speed that shows when the pads are on.

Cons: He doesn't play to his size (fails to high-point balls and waits for the ball to come to him). He struggles with press coverage, lacks the ability to run sharp routes, and has a problem with drops.

Projecting his college game to the pros, I can foresee that NFL corners will absolutely key in on his catch/spin move and that move will lose effectiveness. As a corollary, will the extra thinking he will have to do to adjust this tendency cause additional drops?

Press corners will absolutely get in his chest and, unless something changes in his game, he will be nullified on such plays. I don't feel he is capable of running Reid's route tree without significant coaching.

He will need to be tethered to a juggs machine and coached to high-point the ball rather than waiting until it hits his chest (this seems like something his college coaches should have been working with him on, so not sure why it isn't there.)

Just my opinion on a few videos I have watched on him. What do you see Crow?

Jonathan Mingo

Emmanuel Forbes is someone I've wondered about lately. Tall, fast and a ballhawk at the corner position. May fall because of questions about his wirey frame, plus there's more high-profile corners who likely go before him.

In the 1st?

Ignoring the fact that we drafted 3 CBs last year. dude is like 160 soaking wet. No ****ing thanks.

Me, Gibbs hands down. Check it...

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Grab Mims, if possible, in the 2nd. Just my .02 Imagine a ground game of Gibbs and Pacheco? The RUN sets up the PASS!

He's a first round CB and has all-pro potential imo. Plus Sneed is likely gone next year and we're not likely to have a shot at this kind of talent in the first round next year.

He seems to be rising up the draft charts, but I'll confess to an interest in Zay Flowers. I like watching Patrick Mahomes II put up points like a pinball machine. Is he a dark horse?

Mazi Smith

I really like him, and since I doubt he’ll be available at 63, then I wouldn’t complain

Mingo has been sliding to our third pick on PFN's simulator, wich i believe was updated recently. ****ing sign me up for that every day of the week.

He has been consistently moving up on all of them. NFL Mock had him at 200 at the beginning of the draft season and today he is at 86. Yesterday he was 87. He usually goes before 63 in mock drafts which just highlights his trending up.

His size combined with the skillset is the one lacking in the WR room. 31 may be a tad high for him and some would complain, but **** em.

But you know some would when Hyatt, Mims, and Rice are still on the board at that point.

Darnell Washington

Forbes isn't coming here but he'll go higher than people think because he has ball skills.

He has to be in a certain scheme and all but but he has 13 ints and honestly Gonzalez, Porter, Witherspoon don't have that combined. Someone is gonna dig Forbes because he makes plays on the ball.

Yeah but that also makes him more of a zone CB and teams don't tend to draft zone corners terribly high.

I'll go Jordan Addison since he seems to be the afterthought receiver.

On paper maybe, but you have to take into account that Omenihu and Danna are arguably better rushing from the interior. We need another run stuffer for sure, but in the first round I'd rather have a guy who can play on the edge.

I dont consider him an after thought i just assume hes gone before 31.

Njigba and Flowers are the 2 I think are locks to be gone, I think any of the rest could be in play.

I think all three could be justified as first round picks.

What do I got? A whole bunch of people are paralyzed by overanalysis. LOL. That's my first opinion.

What I really have is a guy that has an excellent release. That's step one of running a good route. He's got great stop-start quickness. He has great long speed. He's got an outstanding stick and go on his posts and slants. He has a great double move.He beat Brents hard twice on it. He's shown to run a good curl/comeback. He high points the football when that option is available. Problem is, Duggan sucks total dick and throws the ball behind him alot so he ends up having to adjust in ways that don't really let you "pluck it" and more have to body catch like I've seen him knocked for. It's bullshit. He catches the ball with his hands when the throw is where it should be. I'd say he does a really great job of adjusting to the never-ending mystery of where the ball might end up from Duggan. He makes YAC. He's got a great vertical too and he has a good frame.

I dunno, sure he's got some drops at times but I'm going to give Duggan some to blame on a few. He doesn't muscle guys around alot with the size he does have but he also isn't the thickest guy to just do that. He's a bit thinner on his frame than people think because he's 203 pounds or whatever. He's not 6'0" 225 or some shit here.

Anyhow, yeah, I think people are really trying to nitpick the **** out of this kid. He's going to grow in the pros as much as anyone and he's really going to benefit from a more accurate QB. I'd love to have him in KC.

I dunno man. Have you watched the Oklahoma state game? I feel like that game is a microcosm of the good and the bad on him, minus the press coverage knock. In the game, He does well on short inbreaking routes and uses the threat of the double move to come wide open on those plays. But then he fails to elevate a couple of times to catch balls against weak competition. He makes a critical play to get them into OT then drops a game winner hitting him in the numbers iirc.
He mushes through intermediate routes I think because he takes several steps to change direction. I feel like he telegraphs plays with his body language run v pass v designed play where he is not getting the ball.

In the K state game, he definitely abused Brents with the release step and demonstrated his acceleration. In the Kansas game, he breaks big plays exclusively with that spin move that I don't think NFL DBs will be fooled by. Those were my three games I watched him on and my off the top of my head takeaways.

Yeah, I've watched it. None of these kids are perfect though. There is a significant knock on any of them. Flowers drops balls far more than Johnston. Hyatt doesn't run a great route tree. Addison lacks the deep speed you'd want for his size. Right? It goes on and on the further you go. What's the moral of the story? They all have warts. They all will learn in the pros. They will all gain valuable experience that some are lacking more than others (Hyatt vs Flowers for example). You're going to see these guys grow and get coached up. Who has a high ceiling? I'd say Johnston and Hyatt are much higher-ceiling guys than Flowers, Addison, or JSN. So, you gotta decide what you can live with and where you think guys will grow. I'd take the shot on Johnston over every other WR in this class outside of JSN (who is probably going top 12). That's my opinion. I think he has the most tools and a floor that's acceptable.

I'm not getting too hung up on overanalyzing the flaws. Johnston doesn't have an overwhelming flaw that's a deal breaker for me.

The only guys I think I like in the 1st are JSN for his floor and Johnston for his ceiling.