WalterFootball mocks 2016

[the Talking Can]

Because it's never too early...

Oct. 10

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State

image: http://walterfootball.com/college/Mi...State_logo.gif

The Alex Smith experiment has to end now. Smith's struggles haven't all been his fault, but it's clear by now that he's not the answer. He is a weak-armed quarterback who never takes chances downfield. Kansas City needs to move on from him.

I keep bouncing back and forth between Connor Cook and and Jared Goff as the No. 1 quarterback. Goff just had a poor showing, so I'll move Cook into the top spot, though it's 50-50 right now. Cook has some accuracy and consistency issues that NFL teams are legitimately worried about.

34. Kansas City Chiefs: Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU

image: http://walterfootball.com/college/LSU_logo.gif

Like the Jaguars, Kansas City could be moving on from its 2013 first-round choice. Eric Fisher not only has been terrible; he's been a wuss as well, failing to play through simple injuries.

66. Kansas City Chiefs: Landon Turner, G, North Carolina

image: http://walterfootball.com/college/No...olina_logo.gif

Back-to-back offensive linemen for a head coach who loves bolstering the trenches? Makes sense to me. The Chiefs, as mentioned earlier, need major upgrades up front.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

This is often the spot-on difference between a first and second rounder. Oftentimes a second round guy will have the same ceiling as a first rounder, but a much lower floor.

That's why there was so much railing against the Mitch Morse pick; it didn't fit the conventional mold of a second round pick. He was a safer pick that didn't have that big-time upside you often see in 2nd rounders (well, at least he didn't appear to at the time).

Burns looks to me like a dead-on mid-2nd. The problem is that he'll almost certainly be gone before we get a shot at him in the late 2nd. And as I've said many times over - I'm hugely opposed to trade-downs out of the first unless you can get at least a 2nd for your troubles because I think the value of that 5th year option is enormous given the rise in the FA $$ pool and salary floor that keeps the market flush in cash every year.

If some team wanted to jump from the early 2nd into the late 1st to try to snag Paxton Lynch away from Denver, A) I'd be tempted to just take Lynch but B) if they'd give me next year's 2nd and a 4th this season, I'd consider it. I wouldn't take anything less than that though and I'd be very reluctant to move down more than 10 spots.

If I can't get that, the question is whether or not I like Burns enough to decide that he's worth the 'reach' knowing that I won't get him otherwise. For me the answer is probably not, but it would depend on how the board has gone to that point. At this point it would be virtually impossible to convince me to go DL in the first; just too much depth there. If the other guys I really like are gone by the end of the 1st, I could potentially talk myself into it.

I still think I'd prefer Fuller though, provided that the medicals check out and I'm convinced injuries messed up his '15.

I'm just not convinced that Fuller is a better fit for our scheme than Burns. I think he'd be better suited in a predominantly zone defense.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by O.city

Not of that is wrong, but that's the kind of prospect I'd feel more comfortable with taking round 2 or 3.

Big floor ceiling difference for a first rounder

At 28, I'd rather take a guy with a higher ceiling, even if he has a lower floor.

If you have 2 guys with the same ceiling, while one has a higher floor, as DJ'sLN suggested in a later post, then yeah, you take the safer pick.

But if one has a higher ceiling, then I'm taking that chance despite his lower floor.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by milkman

At 28, I'd rather take a guy with a higher ceiling, even if he has a lower floor.

If you have 2 guys with the same ceiling, while one has a higher floor, as DJ'sLN suggested in a later post, then yeah, you take the safer pick.

But if one has a higher ceiling, then I'm taking that chance despite his lower floor.

I'd be opposite. The lower floor guy would be my second rounder.

EDIT: That would be a type of player I'd target in the 2nd round, or the type of guys that are normally pushed to the 2nd round.

[the Talking Can]

5 rounder

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

The Chiefs lost Sean Smith in free agency, and with Justin Houston potentially missing significant time, they could use more coverage talent to go with Marcus Peters.

Apple has a good skill set and lots of upside to develop. He has an excellent combination of size and speed, but he needs work on his technique. Apple grabs too much with receivers and needs to improve his ability to run with them without resorting to contact. That rawness keeps him from being a high first-rounder. The 6-foot, 200-pounder looks like he has No. 1-corner potential. In 2015, Apple recorded one interception, eight passes broken up and 33 tackles. He had some coverage lapses early on, but played better to close out the year. Apple was very impressive for the Buckeyes in 2014 down the stretch of their title run, recording 53 tackles with three interceptions and 10 passes broken up on the year.


59. Kansas City Chiefs: Sheldon Day, DL, Notre Dame

The Chiefs grab a young five-technique. Mike DeVito turns 32 in June, and it would make sense to continue to add talent to their front seven considering the age of Tamba Hali.

Day recorded 45 tackles, 15.5 for a loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and four passes batted in 2015. He was very impressive and disruptive for Notre Dame. The 6-foot, 286-pounder was a disruptive presence for the Fighting Irish in 2014, totaling 40 tackles with 7.5 for a loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and two passes batted. He played better than the numbers indicate, too.

Day has some natural strength and athleticism to him. Throughout the Senior Bowl, he fired into the backfield and showed once again that he is a disruptive force.


126. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Forrest, LB, Kentucky

The Chiefs grab a linebacker to pair with Derrick Johnson.

Forrest (6-3, 245) is a thickly built thumper who is a good run defender in the tackle box. At the Senior Bowl, he showed some pass-coverage potential with more athleticism and speed than one would expect.

Forrest totaled 93 tackles with six for a loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and five passes batted in 2015. As a junior, he recorded 110 tackles with two sacks and two interceptions. Forrest is a sleeper linebacker who could be a really nice mid-round value pick.


162. Kansas City Chiefs: Jalin Marshall, WR, Ohio State

The Chiefs grab a third receiver to pair with Jeremy Maclin and Chris Conley.


165. Kansas City Chiefs: David Onyemata, DE/DT, Manitoba

Considering the age of Tamba Hali and the injury to Justin Houston, Kansas City could use some pass-rushing depth.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

5 rounder

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

The Chiefs lost Sean Smith in free agency, and with Justin Houston potentially missing significant time, they could use more coverage talent to go with Marcus Peters.

Apple has a good skill set and lots of upside to develop. He has an excellent combination of size and speed, but he needs work on his technique. Apple grabs too much with receivers and needs to improve his ability to run with them without resorting to contact. That rawness keeps him from being a high first-rounder. The 6-foot, 200-pounder looks like he has No. 1-corner potential. In 2015, Apple recorded one interception, eight passes broken up and 33 tackles. He had some coverage lapses early on, but played better to close out the year. Apple was very impressive for the Buckeyes in 2014 down the stretch of their title run, recording 53 tackles with three interceptions and 10 passes broken up on the year.


59. Kansas City Chiefs: Sheldon Day, DL, Notre Dame

The Chiefs grab a young five-technique. Mike DeVito turns 32 in June, and it would make sense to continue to add talent to their front seven considering the age of Tamba Hali.

Day recorded 45 tackles, 15.5 for a loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and four passes batted in 2015. He was very impressive and disruptive for Notre Dame. The 6-foot, 286-pounder was a disruptive presence for the Fighting Irish in 2014, totaling 40 tackles with 7.5 for a loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and two passes batted. He played better than the numbers indicate, too.

Day has some natural strength and athleticism to him. Throughout the Senior Bowl, he fired into the backfield and showed once again that he is a disruptive force.


126. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Forrest, LB, Kentucky

The Chiefs grab a linebacker to pair with Derrick Johnson.

Forrest (6-3, 245) is a thickly built thumper who is a good run defender in the tackle box. At the Senior Bowl, he showed some pass-coverage potential with more athleticism and speed than one would expect.

Forrest totaled 93 tackles with six for a loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and five passes batted in 2015. As a junior, he recorded 110 tackles with two sacks and two interceptions. Forrest is a sleeper linebacker who could be a really nice mid-round value pick.


162. Kansas City Chiefs: Jalin Marshall, WR, Ohio State

The Chiefs grab a third receiver to pair with Jeremy Maclin and Chris Conley.

Where's our second 5th?

[The Franchise]

I'd love to get Day.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by staylor26

Where's our second 5th?

forgot about it, it's added

[the Talking Can]

today

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

Whoa! There aren't many mock drafts that have this happening, and probably for good reason. It's still a possibility, however, if history is any sort of indication.

Alex Smith is 31. That's not old for a quarterback by any means, but Donovan McNabb was 31 as well when Andy Reid spent the 36th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft on Kevin Kolb. And according to my nifty Windows 10 calculator, that's just eight selections later than this one. Could history repeat itself, especially if Reid likes Lynch and is shocked to see him fall like this? Absolutely! I'm not saying it will happen, but it definitely could. It helps that the Chiefs have met with Lynch on multiple occasions.


59. Kansas City Chiefs: Cody Whitehair, G/OT, Kansas State

The Chiefs lost their best blocker this offseason when Jeff Allen departed via free agency. It wouldn't be a surprise if Kansas City selected a guard early on as a result.


126. Kansas City Chiefs: Kentrell Brothers, ILB, Missouri

Derrick Johnson's return to the lineup has been huge for Kansas City's defense, but the team has a weakness right next to Johnson. Also, it needs to be considered that Johnson just turned 33, so he doesn't have many dominant years left.


162. Kansas City Chiefs: Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State

The Chiefs need a capable receiver besides Jeremy Maclin. When Maclin left the game against the Chargers, the offense looked pretty lost for a while.

Pick change; previously De'Vondre Campbell, LB


165. Kansas City Chiefs: Anthony Zettel, DE/DT, Penn State

Mike DeVito announced his retirement recently, so the Chiefs will have to find a defensive lineman at some point.

[BossChief]

Philly traded down from 26 to 36 in the draft they took Kolb.

For moving down 10 spots, they got a 3rd and a 5th.

Unless a tremendous value is on the board, I'd love to do something like that...but I think Dallas won that trade. They got Anthony Spencer and Philly got Kolb, Stewart Bradley and somebody else and they ended up flipping Kolb for a 2 a few years later.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Philly traded down from 26 to 36 in the draft they took Kolb.

For moving down 10 spots, they got a 3rd and a 5th.

Unless a tremendous value is on the board, I'd love to do something like that...but I think Dallas won that trade. They got Anthony Spencer and Philly got Kolb, Stewart Bradley and somebody else and they ended up flipping Kolb for a 2 a few years later.

We don't need to trade down to get back into the 3rd. With the comp picks we have coming next year we can trade a 2017 pick(s) to get back in there. I'd prefer to stay put and do that, or trade up and make sure we get one of the corners.

[DaneMcCloud]

Please, no trading down for lessor talent.

The Chiefs need more topline talent, not more JAG's and projects.

[Chief Roundup]

It truly comes down to what players are there when we are on the clock, I do think if the players they want are gone or if we know we can get them a few picks later and they know who wants someone that is there they will be making/fielding those calls.
I don't really like the idea of trading next years picks.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

It truly comes down to what players are there when we are on the clock, I do think if the players they want are gone or if we know we can get them a few picks later and they know who wants someone that is there they will be making/fielding those calls.
I don't really like the idea of trading next years picks.

The Chiefs will likely have Comp picks from rounds 3-6.

Trading one of those picks to improve the roster is a no brainer.

[Chief Northman]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The Chiefs will likely have Comp picks from rounds 3-6.

Trading one of those picks to improve the roster is a no brainer.

Agreed. I think Dorsey tries to get the lost 3rd rounder back somehow by packaging 2017 picks, which the Chiefs will have plenty of (likely 10).
This won't come through the bullshit rumors of a J. Charles trade....

[milkman]

Whenever these mocks treat these draft as though Andy Reid running them, it dismisses any credibility.

Further, while we can almost all agree that Josh Mauga is something of a liability next to DJ, I highly doubt that Dorsey will be drafting someone to replace him until they determine that Wilson, March, or Alexander are not the answer there.