Mock 10/12/19

[kccrow]

Moves
Chiefs trade WR Sammy Watkins to Arizona for a 3rd round pick. The Cards will need a receiver and Watkins' cap space is needed in KC.

Chiefs franchise, then trade DT Chris Jones to Miami for their 1st round pick from Pittsburgh (top-10). The Chiefs deal Jones for a quality pick rather than quantity to a team that desperately needs pass rush help at 3-4 DE. It's a big hope and prayer to get this kind of return, but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility given Jones' ability as a 3-4 rush end.

Chiefs cut OT Cam Erving, SS Daniel Sorensen, P Dustin Colquitt

Chiefs sign the following free agents:
DT A'Shawn Robinson (DET) to a 5-year, $57.5 million deal (mirrors Star Lotuleilei's but time adjusted) with $21.0 million guaranteed and a $15 million signing bonus. Estimated 2020 salary is $7.75 million. Robinson doesn't have the pass rush prowess of Jones, but he's a better run defender and can still get some pressure. The plus is Robinson should be much cheaper than Jones and at the same time shore up the leaky run defense.

LB Joe Schobert (CLE) to a 4-year, $60.0 million deal with $23.0 million guaranteed and an $8.0 million signing bonus. Estimated 2020 salary is $11.50 million. Schobert just may be the best ILB in the game right now but more importantly, he's a stout run defender that isn't afraid to take on lineman after his days playing 3-4 OLB at Wisconsin. I screamed for him in the draft, now I'm screaming for him in FA. Make it happen Veach.

DB Jimmy Ward (SF) to a 1-year, $2.0 million deal with $1.0 million guaranteed. Ward is a bit of a Swiss Army knife but his problem is getting knicked up. He's a solid nickel when healthy and that usually means limiting his snaps. He should come at a discount.

Chiefs re-sign/extend the following players:
QB Patrick Mahomes - Exercise 5th-year option, then sign him to a 4-year extension for $152 million with $67 million guaranteed and a $27.5 million signing bonus and $33.0 million 2021 option bonus. Estimated 2020 salary is $8.76 million (+3.5 million)

CB Bashaud Breeland - Re-sign to 3-year $30.0 million deal (similar to Logan Ryan and Prince Amukamara) with $11.5 million guaranteed and a $4.5 million signing bonus and a $3.0 million roster bonus that guarantees the 5th day of the 2021 league year. Estimated 2020 salary is $8.50 million.

DE Emmanuel Ogbah - Re-sign to a 3-year $18.0 million deal (mirrors Alex Okafor's deal) with a $6.0 million bonus.
Chiefs ERFA tender TE Deon Yelder, LG Andrew Wylie, WR Marcus Kemp
Chiefs sign to minimum deals QB Matt Moore, S Jordan Lucas

Deals, after the rollover, leave Chiefs at approximately $6.0 million in cap space.

Draft

1 (f/MIA). CB Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State (6'1" 200)
The only way KC has a shot at Okudah is if they get into the top 10 and likely top 5. One way to do that is to leverage Chris Jones, a player the Dolphins could definitely use, for the pick from Pittsburgh. Okudah is a big, fluid corner with speed and ball skills.
1. OG Solomon Kindley, Georgia (6'4" 335)
The Chiefs have been a swinging gate at left guard so I look for Reid to want to protect Mahomes better. Kindley is a mammoth that has shut down some stud defensive tackles the past couple of seasons.
2 (f/SF). DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State (6'4" 260)
The Chiefs pass rush is rather anemic, so they need to get better there. Ogbah has been a pleasant surprise, which is the reason for re-signing him as a rotational rusher. Okafor has been a mistake and, even though he may make the 2020 cut must go in 2021 at least.
3 (f/ARZ). TE Brycen Hopkins, Purdue (6'5" 245)
The Chiefs need better at the TE position behind an aging Travis Kelce. Hopkins is a quality receiver and good blocker that could eventually transition to TE1.
3. LB Paddy Fisher, Northwestern (6'4" 240)
The Chiefs linebacker play is something atrocious aside from Wilson and some flashes from Niemann. I have them going out and getting stud Joe Schobert in FA but they should work on replacing Hitchens in 2021, who is an absolute liability with an enormous contract. Fisher is one of the better linebackers in the country and plays downhill well. He's not an ace in coverage, but he's solid there.
4. WR Van Jefferson, Florida (6'1" 190)
The Chiefs probably need to trade Watkins and bringing back Robinson could be cost-prohibitive as well. Jefferson has good speed (not many in this class), runs good routes to gain separation, has solid size and has reliable hands. The Chiefs continue rebuilding at receiver, piggy-backing off of drafting Hardman last year. Also a good gunner.
5. RB Trey Ragas, LA-Lafayette (5'11" 227)
Ragas is a power back with speed and quickness, plus good receiving skills. He fits the mold that Veach looks for at the position. Backs are declaring more as Juniors due to a decreased shelf-life, so I fully expect Ragas will with the season he's putting together so far.

QB: Mahomes, Moore, Shurmur
RB: Williams, Williams, Thompson, Ragas
FB: Lovett
WR: Hill, Hardman, Pringle, Jefferson, Thompson, Kemp
TE: Kelce, Hopkins, Yelder
OL: Fisher, Kindley, Reiter, Duvernay-Tardif, Schwartz, Wylie, Allegretti, Rankins, Senat, Hunter
DE: Clark, Okafor, Ogbah, Kpassagnon, Willekes
DT: Robinson, Nnadi, Saunders, Speaks, Ivie
LB: Wilson, Schobert, Hitchens, Fisher, Niemann, O'Daniel
CB: Breeland, Okudah, Ward, Ward, Fenton
S: Mathieu, Thornhill, Watts, Lucas
ST: Butker, Some UDFA Punter, Winchester