As the 2022 NFL Draft quickly approaches, now just one week away, numerous prospects anxiously await the moment they finally realize their NFL dreams.
In Kansas City, fans are anxious to see what direction General Manager Brett Veach goes as he fills the Chiefs’ roster with a fresh crop of talent that will improve the team. Barring any potential trades that may come in the future, Kansas City currently has twelve total picks in this year’s draft, including six selections in the first three rounds, which is more than any other team. These are the spots Kansas City will be picking from:
Round 1 – 29th overall
Round 1 – 30th overall
Round 2 – 50th overall
Round 2 – 62nd overall
Round 3 – 94th overall
Round 3 – 103rd overall
Round 4 – 121st overall
Round 4 – 135th overall
Round 7 – 233rd overall
Round 7 – 243rd overall
Round 7 – 251st overall
Round 7 – 259th overall
Having this much draft capital gives Veach plenty of fuel to do whatever he wants. He could package picks together to move up or down to draft a player he really likes. He could also trade for future selections for the team to use in 2023. He could do what he usually does and stay put and pick up the best players available off the board whenever they’re on the clock. The possibilities are endless for Veach and the Chiefs.
There are many mock drafts already (some more ridiculous than others) trying to predict who will land with Kansas City a week from now.
This week will feature my crack at guessing what the Chiefs’ 2022 draft class will look like when it’s all said and done. Regardless of where Veach goes, this year’s class has high potential to shape the team’s future in the coming decade.
Round 1 – Pick 29 – Kaiir Elam
To kick things off on Day One, the Chiefs don’t trade up like many think they might and hold onto both of their first-round picks. At 29th overall, the Chiefs address their cornerback situation by adding Florida standout Kaiir Elam.
Dubbed as the second-best corner in this draft class, Elam stands at 6-foot-2, 197-pounds, and clocked a 4.45 40 time at the combine earlier this year.
He possesses rare athleticism with a prototype frame, broad shoulders, and the agility and acceleration that allows him to be proficient in man-to-man coverage. Elam would be an excellent addition to Kansas City’s secondary after they watched Charvarious Ward leave in free agency and should be able to start immediately alongside L’Jarius Sneed.
Round 1 – Pick 30 – George Pickens
As previously mentioned, the Chiefs hold back-to-back picks in the first round. After addressing a need on the defensive side of the football, they resolve a hole on offense by selecting Georgia wide receiver George Pickens.
After trading away Tyreek Hill earlier this offseason, the Chiefs are in the market to get another speedy pass catcher for quarterback Patrick Mahomes to throw to. Pickens has quality size and the speed to make plays downfield much-like Hill used to.
Pickens also has the strength to make contested catches and the ability to separate from his man to convert big-time production. He also wouldn’t need to start immediately upon entering a room full of veterans in Juju Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Mecole Hardman.
Round 2 – Pick 50 – Breece Hall
Predicting what Veach does from Day 2 forward is anyone’s guess. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Chiefs addressed the defensive line at pick 50. However, sorta like how Creed Humphrey fell to them at 63rd overall last year, some talent can’t be passed up.
That happens again with Iowa States’ Breece Hall sitting on the board. Some might disagree with Kansas City selecting a running back in the second round. However, adding Hall to the backfield would give the Chiefs quality depth and a potential starter to team up with Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the run game. This would also be an investment pick since nobody knows how Ronald Jones, who the Chiefs signed to a one-year deal in free agency, will fare in 2022 or if he’ll stay in KC beyond this year.
At 6-foot-1, 220-pounds, Hall gives the Chiefs a back with great vision, brute strength, and a powerful downhill running style that makes him difficult to stop. He’s also a lethal pass-catcher coming out of the backfield, perfect for Andy Reid’s pass-happy play-calling style, which will help give Mahomes a security blanket to check down to and help keep defenses honest.
Hall would provide depth in 2022 as he competes with Jones, CEH, and Derrick Gore, potentially becoming a future starter in 2023 and beyond.
Round 2 – Pick 62 – Perrion Winfrey
With the offense now set at two key positions, the Chiefs turn their attention back to defense with the 62nd pick in the draft and select Oklahoma’s, Perrion Winfrey.
While he’s listed as a defensive tackle, he’d be more suited lining up as a defensive end opposite Frank Clark.
At 6-foot-4, 300-pounds, Winfrey gives Kansas City a pass-rushing threat they’ve lacked in past seasons. He’s a long d-lineman and uses that length to his advantage by locking out blockers to control engagement. His long arms also allow him to be disruptive to passing lanes and bat balls down at the line of scrimmage.
He also takes long strides, which allow him to cover lots of ground very quickly when in pursuit, and is very explosive coming out of his stance with quality hand quickness and stout leg drive.
Round 3 – Pick 94 – Kellen Diesch
From this point forward, the Chiefs do their due diligence to add quality depth while trying to hit on a few gems. At 94th overall, they add to their already stout offensive line by selecting Kellen Diesch from Arizona State.
At a towering 6-foot-7 and 301-pounds, Diesch looks the part of an offensive tackle at the professional level. His slender frame gives him the ability to play with a low pad level (an issue for most o-lineman with his height) with ease, giving him an advantage by getting underneath his opponent at the point of attack.
He displays quick footwork, affording him the ability to react when he needs to counter what the opposition is trying to do to him. Diesch also demonstrates quality body control as a pass blocker and has the speed and athleticism to quickly pull out or move up to the second level in the run game.
With limited options at tackle behind starters Orlando Brown and Lucus Niang, Diesch provides excellent depth while also providing Dave Toub with someone who could contribute on special teams.
Round 3 – Pick 103 – JoJo Domann
At pick 103, the Chiefs select a rather intriguing specimen in Nebraska linebacker JoJo Domann.
Domann is on the smaller side of a linebacker draft class that is already filled with uncertainty. However, the 6-foot-1, 226-pound Domann displays the skills and athleticism to play in a hybrid type role, including bouncing out to the secondary as a slot corner and even safety in some situations.
He’s an incredibly versatile and explosive athlete who accelerates in the open field. But can quickly transition and close in to make a tackle. His explosiveness and range allow him to track plays from sideline to sideline in pass coverage. He’s extremely light on his feet and fluid in his hips which lets him change direction quickly when in space.
From the box, he has the athleticism and explosiveness to close in quickly and can bring a ton of pressure as a blitzer. At the very least, Domann would be an excellent addition to Dave Toub’s special teams unit. However, there’s a ton of upside that he could be a significant contributor on defense.
Round 4 – Pick 121- Cordale Flott
Staying on the defensive side of the football, Kansas City uses the 121st overall selection to add to their cornerbacks’ room, picking LSU’s Cordale Flott.
At 6-foot, 175-pounds, Flott is a versatile player who can play as a nickel/dime back or an outside cornerback and excels in both man and zone coverage. In man, he displays the ability to get out of breaks and stay on his man when running short or medium routes. He also uses his vision and awareness to identify passing routes while in zone coverage. He has outstanding ball skills that allow him to track the ball while it’s in the air to put him in a position to pick it off.
The addition of Flott gives the Chiefs some more cornerback depth and another contributor both on defense and special teams.
Round 4 – Pick 135 – Lecitus Smith
Late in the fourth round, the Chiefs could use more depth along the offensive line and go with Virginia Tech’s Lecitus Smith at 135th overall. Smith is an athletic offensive guard at 6-foot-3 and 321-pounds. Smith possesses a good burst of power at the point of attack and is sometimes explosive when in space. He has good acceleration and exceptional lateral mobility that allows him to travel through gaps and blocks while on the move with ease.
Smith is an aggressive blocker who regularly plays to the final whistle. He has the urgency to move up the second level of the defense and has zero issues finishing smaller opponents. When engaged, Smith latches to his opponent and has a mauler mentality to enforce his power and send the defender into the dirt.
Additionally, Smith has good hands that remain active and are fast enough to extend for opposing rushers and quickly reset to get under his opponent’s pads. Coupled with impressive leg drive and grip strength, Smith is able to drive defenders in motion. He also keeps his shoulders square towards his opponent and has the awareness to pick up on blitzes.
Round 7 – Pick 233 – Nate Landman
After the fourth round, Kansas City won’t pick again until the seventh round unless Veach finds a way to trade back up. Figuring he may stay put until the 233rd overall pick, the Chiefs add Nate Landman, a linebacker out of Colorado.
While the Chiefs are pretty well set at linebacker, you can never have enough depth and special teams contributors. Landman is an excellent tackler both from inside the box and in the open field and rarely allows ball carries to escape his grasp. He’s a hard hitter, packs a punch upon contact, and has a knack for forcing fumbles throughout his college career.
When defending the pass, Landman is good in zone coverage and has good vision and awareness to watch the QB’s eyes and naturally flows into passing lanes. While defending the run, he’s displayed excellent instincts as a rushing defender and is quick to see the play develop and attack the line of scrimmage with downhill speed. He has good power to take on blocks and is a tremendous tackler. However, he lacks the range and speed to contain runs to the outside and along the sideline.
Still, Landman gives the Chiefs quality depth at linebacker and would compete with Shilique Calhoun, Elijah Lee, and Darius Harris.
Round 7 – Pick 243 – Kendrick Duncan
At 243rd overall, the Chiefs add to their safety department by picking up Kendrick Duncan out of Louisville. Duncan is a versatile player who can play anywhere on the field, whether as a free safety or as an outside and slot cornerback.
Duncan can achieve such versatility because of his athleticism, range, and incredible downhill type speed, which allows him to quickly cover a lot of ground. He’s a very physical defensive back and isn’t afraid to jam his opponents on the line, and he’s willing to demonstrate his physicality both at the catch point and during the route in coverage.
While he needs to improve as a tackler, Duncan has exceptional football intelligence that allows him to read what an offense is about to do and help his teammates make proper presnap adjustments. His football I.Q. also puts him in the right place at the right time to make a play on the ball.
Duncan wouldn’t see much playing time right away, but his versatility, athletic ability, and football smarts could help him develop into an excellent contributor on defense and special teams.
Round 7 – Pick 251 – Chamarri Conner
Continuing to address the depth at cornerback, the Chiefs use their 251st overall pick on Chamarri Conner out of Virginia Tech. At 6-foot, 211-pounds, Conner has a solid frame with a strong lower body. He’s very fluid and has the range, combined with loose hips that help him quickly change direction and stay on his guy in man coverage.
He closes to the football well and has the hands to pick it off if it’s anywhere in his vicinity. He’s good in pursuit and has the speed to chase and track down the ball carrier. Conner also has exceptional body control and the balance to redirect and break down in the open field.
Conner would need time to develop and work ot some flaws, such as his inconsistent footwork and balance when in coverage, tackling ability, and getting off blocks. However, he’d help add depth to the secondary and provide someone that could compete for a roster spot and contribute on special teams.
Round 7- Pick 259 – Lucas Krull
With the 259th and final draft selection of 2022, the Chiefs pick tight end Lucas Krull, out of Pitt. Krull fits into the offense as a depth piece behind Travis Kelce and helps add competition with Blake Bell, Noah Gray, and Jody Fortson.
Krull is a highly competitive player and blocks well in space and at the second level. He has good short-area foot quickness with great footwork and has above-average speed for a 6-foot-6, 253-pound tight end. Krull is a coordinated athlete and a tough player to tackle when running with a low pad level, thanks to his size and strength.
He has excellent hands, catches the ball well in traffic, uses his body to shield the ball from defenders, and can hold onto the ball while being hit. He is willing to fully extend to catch a pass and has the body control to stay in bounds.
