Perfect Picks 2023: Kansas City Chiefs
With the NFL Draft approaching we will be looking at each team and evaluating where they need to improve. In this particular series we will run a seven round mock using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator and find the ‘Perfect Picks’ for each franchise.
We will highlight four players that could help each team. This will feature picks 1 and 2, a mid round gem and a late round sleeper.
Round 1 - Josh Downs (Wide Receiver, North Carolina)
The Chiefs lost their biggest receiving threat, Tyreek Hill, prior to the 2022 season. It didn’t appear to hold the offense back as Mahomes and co. added another Super Bowl to their collection. However, upcoming free agents Mecole Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster will further dint the position group should they walk.
Currently, the 32nd pick would appear to be a sweet spot for receiver, in a class that lacks top-10 talent. However, in this scenario Josh Downs was the last remaining one with first-round traits. Downs is far from a complete player but his speed will have NFL teams interested. Most of Downs’ production came from the slot but I expect his testing to cause a boost in the stock to make him a round 1 pick. Matching him with Mahomes would immediately enhance his potential ceiling.
Round 2 - Matthew Bergeron (Offensive Tackle, Syracuse)
Bergeron enjoyed his second season as Syracuse’s starting left tackle and for the most part it was a strong showing. He conceded five sacks, up from the single one he allowed in 2021 but earned a strong pass-blocking grade of 80.9 from PFF. Add to that a positive display at the Senior Bowl and Bergeron’s stock is moving up strongly.
Offensive tackle could be a major concern for the Chiefs post free agency. Starters Orlando Brown and Andrew Wylie could both depart, meaning an immediate starter will be a must. Bergeron may have to take his lumps if he was a Day 1 starter but he has the physical presence and movement ability to succeed at the highest level.
Mid Round Gem - Ochaun Mathis (Edge Rusher, Nebraska)
As impressive as Frank Clark is come post-season, keeping him and Chris Jones along the defensive line could be tricky, at least in a financial sense. George Karlaftis was drafted as the long-term replacement but the Chiefs could use more depth. Carlos Dunlap is ageing and a free agent so expect the Chiefs to go back to the well for an edge player.
Ochaun Mathis did not hit the expectations that some had of him when transferring from TCU to Nebraska this offseason. His imposing 6’5, 260lb frame is the NFL prototype and while he flashed as a Horned Frog, his three sacks in his sole year in Nebraska will likely consign him to the mid-rounds and a rotational role, an ideal match for the Super Bowl champions.
Late Round Sleeper - Tavion Thomas (Running Back, Utah)
It should have been Clyde Edwards-Helaire winning plaudits after another Chiefs’ Super Bowl run. That was surely the path expected for the first round pick. He was meant to be the cherry on top of the offensive cake that Andy Reid had baked. The script never mentioned an unlikely hero in seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco. His success should consign Edwards-Helaire to Chiefs history and have them looking for a backup.
At 6’1, 247lbs, Tavion Thomas certainly would add a different flavour to the Chiefs backfield. Pacheco’s elusiveness would mesh nicely with the more thunderous approach of Thomas. In 2021, the Utah running back had 18 touchdowns on 168 attempts and despite his weight, displays enough spriteliness to expose less athletic defenders. This pairing would give the Chiefs one of the more compelling running back duos in the league.
Draft In Full:
Round 1 – Josh Downs (Wide Receiver, North Carolina)
Round 2 – Matthew Bergeron (Offensive Tackle, Syracuse)
Round 3 – Christopher Smith (Safety, Georgia)
Round 4 – Zacch Pickens (Defensive Tackle, South Carolina)
Round 4 – Mekhi Garner (Cornerback, LSU)
Round 5 – Ochaun Mathis (Edge Rusher, Nebraska)
Round 6 – Luke Schoonmaker (Tight End, Michigan)
Round 6 – Jaren Hall (Quarterback, BYU)
Round 6 – Tavion Thomas (Running Back, Utah)
Round 7 – Jayden Reed (Wide Receiver, Michigan State)
Round 7 – Alex Forsyth (Center, Oregon)
Round 7 – Robert Beal Jr (Edge Rusher, Georgia)
