Mock 4/15/21

[kccrow]

This may very well end up being my "What I Want Mock" as a 2021 edition but I'm very much looking for some input this go-around as it's been a tough year to put a pulse on the "where" prospects should fall. Boards are all over the place and I'm going more on personal thoughts than not here.

So here goes...

1-31 | DE Joe Tryon, Washington (6'5" 259)
Long, athletic defensive end that flashes elite movement skills on tape. Shows good power and speed to make it difficult on offensive tackles and shows adequate but not elite bend on the arc. Has long arms, big hands and good grip that he can use to his advantage to keep blockers off his frame and to take down opponents trying to get outside his area. Outstanding quickness off the snap to immediately gain an advantage. Ultra-competitive and energetic player. Needs to learn to process better and to set up a rush plan, but has all of the tools. Also needs to learn to better convert speed to power.

My take: The Chiefs need to be able to better generate consistent pressure from their front four rather than executing exotic blitzes with defensive backs on the regular. Tryon is one of my personal favorites in this draft with his get-off at the snap, which is the number one thing I look for in any defensive lineman followed closely by length. What Tryon lacks is entirely coachable, and from all accounts he takes well to it. The Chiefs snag a pillar position in round 1, which should be the goal.

No LT? I have the Chiefs waiting on a tackle prospect, which means the likely signing of a stop-gap player at the position for 2021. Russell Okung certainly is a valid option, but the Chiefs and other teams may be waiting to see how the draft goes down before making a commitment. I also don't entirely discount the possibility that Lucas Niang can be the Chiefs' future LT. All that put together, I don't know that I push the process early unless I get a deal on a good landing spot for Darrisaw.

2-56 | WR Dyami Brown, North Carolina (6'1" 189)
KC trades 2-63, 4-136 to SEA for 2-56
Big-play X receiver with over 20 yards per reception in each of the last two seasons in the ACC. Has great acceleration off the line and through his route to keep defenders off in coverage. Good with double-moves and subtle foot jabs to set up defenders and leave them in his wake. Good at tracking the deep ball and catching with his hands but can lack focus at times that can lead to drops. Needs to learn the nuances to consistently beat the press, which may be the primary factor keeping him out of first-round consideration. Already a solid route runner, but with NFL coaching could become one of the premier route-runners in the NFL. Shows Stefon Diggs-like potential in a similar body.

My take: The Chiefs have to invest in the receiver position sooner than later, and probably should have done so in 2020. I was really high on Stefon Diggs coming out and I see Brown as a similar receiver that may be even more polished as a prospect. You have to continually keep Patrick and this offense stacked with weapons. I don't think Brown lasts quite to 63, so I have the Chiefs getting ahead of the Rams and Packers that routinely snag their wideouts in the 2nd by trading with the Seahawks.

3-78 | OT Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa (6'8" 311)
KC trades 3-94, 4-144, 5-181 to MIN for 3-78
A massive lineman with insane height and arm length to go with an elite athletic profile. One of the best pure movers I've ever seen on the edge, which definitely shows his background as a tight end. Shows outstanding foot quickness, setting himself up well to mirror on the edge and around the arc. His length makes it difficult for defenders to get around the outside, so he just needs to learn the patience to maintain control against inside counters. Shows solid ability in the run game for his size and adequate ability to reach and engage at the second level. Needs to continue his Senior Bowl development with hand-placement and pad level to become a more consistent player. Has worked with former NFL left tackle Joe Staley and has practiced at LT despite playing RT exclusively at Northern Iowa. Has some knee issues in his past, but nothing in the past 4 years. If he can put together the consistent technique on a down-to-down basis, he shows more than elite athleticism to play LT in the NFL and compares favorably to players like Kolton Miller and Nate Solder, both of whom have performed well in the NFL.

My take: It's a foregone conclusion that the Chiefs have to invest at the tackle position early in this draft, but I've come to the realization that I don't want them to rush it for the sake of getting one. I don't feel there is a substantial difference in prospects from Cosmi to Radunz to Brown, who may be available to KC in each of rounds 1 to 3 respectively. I have the Chiefs going up ahead of the Patriots to snag a Solder clone in Brown and I'm absolutely enamored with the raw athletic specimen on tape. The question may be, do I have him too low?

5-175 | LB Buddy Johnson, Texas A&M (6'1" 229)
Another high-energy, athletic player with the range to get to the sidelines. A leader on the field with the ability to line up the defense. Shows quick reactions and triggers downhill quickly. Works through traffic and around blockers to get into the backfield and disrupt. Fluid mover in space and shows adequate speed to stay with backs and tight ends in man coverage. Physical tackler with some violence. Needs to develop better vision, route anticipation, and depth against the pass in the NFL, which may keep him from seeing the field often right out of the gate and limit him to short-yardage situations until he's ready. Significant upside on special teams while he develops.

My take: I have the Chiefs trading a lot of capital in the middle of this draft to move up and get players of need on day 2. That said, I think the one position they are in desperate need of injecting more talent at on day 3 is LB. I really like Buddy Johnson as a developmental prospect. With Sorensen back in the fold, there's a little less pressure to have a 3rd LB. I see Johnson as a fit at any of the three spots and his ability to play in coverage may ultimately decide his placement... and fate.

6-207 | RB Nate McCrary, Saginaw Valley State (6'0" 213)
Home-area hero. Outstanding runner in his league with light, twitchy feet and outstanding later agility that allow him to change direction and execute cutbacks with extreme efficiency. Shows legit 4.40 speed on the field with the ability to gain the edge and take it the distance, outpacing defensive backs. Has good size with the ability to run with enough power to gain short-yardage, and proved it at his pro day with a 36" vertical and 10'5" broad jumps. Has solid hands in the passing game and adequate awareness as a pass blocker to be used as a 3rd down back sooner than later. Shows good patience and vision, allowing his blocks to develop before bursting through the hole. Could run with a bit wider base, which exposes him to easier tackles than his body type would indicate. Frame doesn't look maxed out, could pack on another 10-15 pounds in the NFL.

My take: I'm not long for Darrell Williams as the #2 guy and I absolutely think Darwin Thompson should be cut and replaced with just about any RB with a pulse. That said, I'm stuck on the ability I've seen from the hometown kid, I feel like he's a guy you can develop to be a pretty solid, if not spectacular back. I think this is a kid that can give you immediate value in a variety of ways, both in the offensive game plan and on special teams.

No CB in the draft? No problem. Veach is a master of picking up value FAs and it's not an immediate need. I feel like the bottom falls out at the position after round 3, and no matter how much I like a few corners, such as Paulson Abedo and Ambry Thomas, I just can't pull the trigger over the positions I did here.

Roster
QB: P. Mahomes, C. Henne
RB: C. Edwards-Helaire, Dar. Williams, N. McCrary

WR: T. Hill, D. Brown, M. Hardman, D. Robinson, B. Pringle, A. Calloway
TE: T. Kelce, N. Keizer, B. Bell

LT: S. Brown, M. Rankin, P. Tega Wanogho
LG: J. Thuney, Y. Durant
OC: A. Blythe, N. Allegretti
RG: L. Duvernay-Tardif, K. Long
RT: M. Remmers, L. Niang

DE: F. Clark, M. Danna
DT: C. Jones, T. Wharton
DT: D. Nnadi, J. Reed, K. Saunders
DE: J. Tryon, T. Charlton

SLB: W. Gay, D. Harris
ILB: A. Hitchens, E. Smith
WLB: B. Niemann, B. Johnson, D. O'Daniel

CB: C. Ward, L. Sneed, R. Fenton, T. Keyes, D. Baker
S: T. Mathieu, J. Thornhill, D. Sorensen, A. Watts, R. Clemons

K: Butker
P: Townsend
LS: Winchester

[htismaqe]

I actually LOVE this draft. You've maximized value at 3 positions of need without reaching. Brown (the WR) is a potential star.

[The Franchise]

Does Spencer Brown start day one?

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I actually LOVE this draft. You've maximized value at 3 positions of need without reaching. Brown (the WR) is a potential star.

I also like how he weaponized his extra picks to move up.

This could be a very likely Chiefs strategy.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I also like how he weaponized his extra picks to move up.

This could be a very likely Chiefs strategy.

Yeah, this is one of those dream drafts.

I'd take the whole thing, exactly how it played out.

That doesn't happen often here where we all agree but this one is it for me.

[OKchiefs]

Looks good, although in that scenario I think KC would need to sign Okung or Villanueva as a stop gap.

[Chris Meck]

I like it.

I think if you pair that draft with signing an Okung type you're in really good shape. I LOVE Brown as a prospect and he's probably even my favorite LT prospect but I'd be a little leery of just handing him the keys right away.

[duncan_idaho]

I love this one, really think you've locked in.

I'm also really into Brown as well as Forsythe. Size, upside, athletic ability.

[JohnnyHammersticks]

I like the first three picks. I need to look into Buddy Johnson. Haven't seen video on him but now I've seen 3 different mocks with him going to us on day 3.

[CatfishBob2]

I bet you'll have to trade back into the second for both of the Brown's .... Spencer Brown has been my OT crush since I started doing mocks this year. All of these picks are hits....I gotta look at that RB but I'm gonna slide JahMaine Martin in there as my homer pick for RB though

[kcbubb]

Well done! This is what I’ve been rooting for; DE, WR then LT.

[Stryker]

Well done! Bravo! Anxious to check video on these players. The consensus is a solid draft.

[KChiefs1]

Love the Dyami Brown pick.

[staylor26]

I’d be down with this.

[Couch-Potato]

I love it! But I wonder if Brown goes earlier now due to all the buzz surrounding his atheletism. Ideally, I want to see Chiefs nab one of the ends from MIA but we may have to move up to do so.