Mock 11/10

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by kccrow

In my opinion, the choice would come down to stud DT versus stud ILB. I think Bosa and Ferrell are going top 3 and I do project 1 and 3 respectively at this point if it's the Raiders and 49ers in those spots. I have a QB to the Giants sandwiched in between. After that, there is a significant drop off in edge talent even to Josh Allen who is pretty good. I don't have a CB rated as a top 10 talent to this point, although that rating is far from anything at this point. The closest is Greedy Williams. Now, the big argument is DT in my opinion, and there are some monsters this year. That said, I think the defensive tackle position is pretty stacked for the Chiefs IF they do make a move to a 4-3. If I didn't project the Chiefs moving to a 4-3 and I'm projecting Speaks to remain at OLB, then I'd be all-in on a DT/DE prospect. That said, I probably also wouldn't be trading Dee Ford away to get here. So, for me, I'm taking the best ILB prospect that I've seen since Patrick Willis coming out. The reasoning I have is that I think the Chiefs weakest spot on the defense is at linebacker. They struggle in coverage and they struggle coming up in run support. This team needs a leader, a play caller, and an enforcer on the inside. They lack one. White is exactly that type of player. He can cover, he's stout, he's one of the quickest, most decisive linebackers I've ever watched.

The other issue is that you're locked into Hitchens for another season; no getting out of that deal next year and frankly it's not easy escaping it after 2020 but it's manageable.

I haven't seen White play enough to say this is a bad choice, but I will say that White had better truly be a once in a decade kind of ILB and not just the best ILB in this year's draft. Because you're either layering Hitchens and his $9 million cap figure in 2019 or you're drafting a sub-package player in White for a year.

If all he is is 2019's best ILB, then wait until 2020 to get your ILB and move on from Hitchens then while getting a desperately needed CB in 2019. In the limited amount of time I've watched LSU, I've actually liked their OTHER corner that nobody talks about much as much as Williams; Fulton. I don't know if he'll skyrocket up draft boards or not but man he looks dynamic. There are remarkable tools there.

Bottome line is that I just don't see a way around absolutely having to get a new corner. I didn't like the idea of paying market price for Darby even before he got injured. Middle-class corners are fool's gold, IMO. Coach those guys up; develop them or scheme for them. You don't pay for them, IMO.

The idea of franchising/trading Ford is an interesting one, but I think I might just prefer paying him, keeping the pass-rush as dynamic as it is and supplementing the secondary through the draft.