Mock (11/6)

[Direckshun]

Assumptions:

1. The Chiefs finish 9-7, make the playoffs, and get drummed out of the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Because we are the Chiefs. We end up picking #23. All staff is retained.

2. The team fails to extend OLB Justin Houston and has to franchise tag him. They do, however, extend S Eric Berry at some point over the next 12 months for about $8-9m a year.

3. The Chiefs re-sign C Rodney Hudson to a 4 year, $20m deal ($6m guaranteed), DE Allen Bailey to a 4 year, $22m deal ($8m guaranteed), DE Kevin Vickerson to a 2 year, $2m deal, and S Ron Parker to a 3 year, $5m deal ($1m guaranteed).

4. The Chiefs cut WR A.J. Jenkins, TE Anthony Fasano, DE Mike DeVito, OLB Tamba Hali, ILB Derrick Johnson, CB Jamell Fleming.

5. The Chiefs tender OLB Josh Martin.

6. The Chiefs let walk WR Junior Hemingway, WR Frankie Hammond, OT Ryan Harris, OG Jeff Linkenbach, OG Mike McGlynn, S Kurt Coleman, and S Kelcie McCray.

7. The Chiefs re-sign RB Joe McKnight, TE Demetrius Harris, ILB Josh Mauga, CB Chris Owens, and LS Thomas Gafford to minimal deals.

8. The Chiefs sign TE Lance Kendricks (Rams) to a 2 year, $4.5m deal.

9. They receive four compensatory picks: a 3rd, a 4th, a 5th, and a 6th.

On with the show:



1.23. WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State

The Chiefs let Hemingway, Jenkins, and Hammond go this offseason. They need to rebuild their WR corps, and Strong is a very attractive option to add in the mid to late 1st.

2.55. OLB Hauoli Kikaha, Washington

A bit of a head scratcher, yes, but this is the Chiefs hedging their bets on Dee Ford, who is no guarantee to take over for Tamba Hali, who was arguably the defense's key-est cog over the past eight years. The Chiefs need quality depth anyway, in case either Houston or Ford go down, and Josh Martin is a good player, but not an answer. Kikaha is an expert corner-turner who is having a really good season.

3.87. OT Ereck Flowers, Miami

One of the most talented tackles in the draft, has LT potential. Has RT experience. The Chiefs let Ryan Harris walk, and only have Donald Stephenson for one more year. Flowers is recovering from a knee injury, and Dorsey's proven he'll look the other way on injuries if the talent is there.

3.96. ILB Jake Ryan, Michigan

The Chiefs like Josh Mauga to take over for DJ at WILB with Joe Mays returning as starting SILB. Mauga has injury issues, however, and the Chiefs need a longterm answer at the position anyway. Ryan is a super athletic, very fast ILB that has a great nose for the ball and is DJ-esque in blitzing.

4.134. CB Ladarius Gunter, Miami

The Chiefs like their starting combo of Sean Smith and Phillip Gaines with Chris Owens in the slot, but Marcus Cooper isn't the best depth in the world. Gunter is the longest CB in the draft -- I've sent him to KC several times now.

5.163. WR Kenny Bell, Nebraska

Bell is a natural replacement for Hemingway -- an excellent blocking WR that can run sharp routes in the intermediate.

5.174. FS Justin Cox, Mississippi State

A rangey, long (6'2") free safety playing in what is essentially an NFL defense.

6.193. DE/OLB Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA

Coming back in 2014 fairly well after missing all of 2013 with a hip surgery, Odighizuwa has the best name in this draft. With Hali out of the way, the Chiefs continue searching for talent that can get to the QB.

6.213. OG Jamon Brown, Louisville

6'6", 350 lbs, with impossibly long arms. Experience at RT and LT.

7.238. NT Jeffrey Whitaker, Auburn

Adding another beefy body to back up Poe.

[Direckshun]

QB: Smith, Daniel, Bray vs. Murray
RB: Charles, Davis, McKnight, Thomas, Gray
FB: Sherman

WR: Bowe, Strong, Avery, Thomas, Bell, Wilson
TE: Kelce, Kendricks, Harris

LT: Fisher, Stephenson
LG: Allen, Duvarney-Tardif
C: Hudson, Kush
RG: Fulton, Brown
RT: Stephenson, Flowers

DE: Vickerson, Howard
NT: Poe, Walker, Whitaker
DE: Bailey, Catapano

OLB: Ford, Kikaha, Odighizuwa
ILB: Mays, Johnson
ILB: Mauga, Ryan
OLB: Houston, Martin

CB: Smith, Gaines, Owens, Gunter, Cooper
S: Berry, Abdullah, Parker, Commings, Cox

K: Santos
P: Colquitt
LS: Gafford

[OldSchool]

I would take Clemmings over Flowers right now. Both are great OT prospects though, I just like Clemmings better in the run game.