54. Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn
Unfortunately, after trading it to get in position to land Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs do not have a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, in a relatively deep class, they can certainly still find a talented player at a major position of need with their second-round pick. In this mock draft, they do just that when Auburn cornerback Carlton Davis falls into their lap.
At 6-1, 203 pounds, Davis has ideal overall size and length at the cornerback position. He uses his long arms extremely well in coverage, consistently blanketing opposing receivers and knocking passes down from all angles.
He shows great press coverage skills, consistently jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage. Davis also has quick feet and sharp instincts that allows him to keep up in man coverage.
The Chiefs traded away star cornerback Marcus Peters this offseason. Their primary cornerback trio of Kendall Fuller, David Amerson and Steven Nelson is solid, but they could certainly use a big and talented cornerback like Davis to add to the mix.
Drafting Davis and placing him in the Chiefs’ cornerback mix would be a strong move for both the short and long-term. This would not fix all of their defensive issues, but it would certainly be a step in the right direction.
78. Da’Shawn Hand, DL, Alabama
Unless the Kansas City Chiefs end up bringing back Bennie Logan, I would expect them to add some defensive line depth in the 2018 NFL Draft. They currently hold two third-round selections, and in this mock draft, they find a perfect defensive line depth addition with their first third-round pick.
Da’Shawn Hand is a former blue-chip recruit who was expected to be an absolute star at the University of Alabama. While Hand never became the elite edge rusher that he was once projected to be, he grew into an extremely productive and reliable player up front.
At 6-4, 297 pounds, Hand is a big and strong defensive lineman who possesses elite length. Hand uses his length extremely, consistently showing the ability to keep opposing blockers away from his body. He is a read and react player who shows impressive run defending skills both as a one-gap and two-gap asset.
Hand is also a good athlete whose quickness on the inside can be a fantastic weapon at the next level. Simply put, Hand is a rock-solid defensive lineman who could be an immediate contributor for the Chiefs as a five-technique defensive end. At worst, he is a solid player who provides strong depth, but Hand also has the upside to be a long-term reliable starter for the Kansas City Chiefs.
86. Alex Cappa, G, Humboldt State
Most of the Chiefs’ more primary needs are on the defensive side of the ball. Cornerback, safety, defensive line and edge rusher are all probably more obvious holes than anything the Chiefs have on the offensive side of the ball. However, when it comes to offensive needs, the left guard position stands out.
If the season started today, the Chiefs would start either Bryan Witzmann or Parker Ehinger at left guard. While Witzmann and Ehinger can be acceptable options, they certainly are not long-term solutions for a team that should be extremely competitive in the next few years. In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Chiefs need to find a player who at least provides some potential upside at the left guard position.
Alex Cappa is an interesting offensive tackle prospect who shows quick feet and fantastic overall movement ability. He is a talented pass protector who moves extremely for an offensive lineman.
Cappa is not the biggest offensive lineman, but he shows functional strength at the point of attack. He can explode off the line of scrimmage and drive defenders forward as a run blocker.
I like Cappa as a potential offensive tackle, but his combination of skills may be better suited to play inside. He could be a great swing tackle who may be able to fill in as a part-time starter. However, Cappa has a lot of upside as an interior offensive lineman.
I like him for the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round as a developmental offensive line prospect who could fix their biggest need on the offensive side of the ball.
122. Duke Ejiofor, EDGE, Wake Forest
The Kansas City Chiefs have really struggled to find a consistent pass rush option to play opposite of Justin Houston in recent years. Tamba Hali is a shell of his former self and Dee Ford has never lived up to his first-round pedigree. Tanoh Kpassagnon and Dadi Nicolas both have a lot of upside, but both players are extremely raw and impossible to count on right now.
Simply put, the Chiefs need to find a way to add impact edge rushers to the mix. In this mock draft, it starts with the selection of Duke Ejiofor with their first of two fourth-round picks.
Ejiofor is not a freak athlete on the edge. His bend and initial burst off of the snap leaves plenty to be desired. That being said, Ejiofor is an extremely disciplined player who shows a nice combination of quickness and power on the outside. He is also a crafty rusher who uses his long arms extremely well.
Ejiofor does not have a ton of upside as an outside pass rusher, but he is a rock-solid player who could come in and make an immediate impact. He can create pressure on the quarterback while also being a strong asset against the run game. On top of that, his ability to kick inside and rush the passer from the interior on obvious passing downs is extremely exciting.
Selecting Duke Ejiofor does not solve the Chiefs’ issues at edge rusher, but it is a great step in the right direction.
124. Kemoko Turay, EDGE, Rutgers
Just two picks after adding Ejiofor to the mix, the Kansas City Chiefs take another stab at a potential impact edge player. Kemoko Turay is not as polished as a guy like Ejiofor. Injuries held his development back in college and his overall technique on the edge needs a lot of work.
That being said, Turay is a much more explosive player who has exciting upside at the next level. Turay is a sudden athlete who can bend around the edge and create consistent pressure on the passer. He also shows elite-level quickness, crashing down and shooting through the gaps to make plays against the run.
Similar to guys like Kpassagnon and Nicolas, Turay is a project at the edge rusher position. However, his immense upside makes him worth taking a chance on in the fourth round.