Crow's 2022 "What I Want" Mock Draft

[kccrow]

Well, I'm now on edition number three, so my worry about coming into this one a bit early this year was warranted. As much as I'd like to say this is the final edition, you never know what my tiny little brain will conjure up next. All that said, I'm looking at fortifying the edge and pass rush as a whole as the primary focus of this draft early on, then fortifying the secondary and receiving corps with some depth. I'll sprinkle in some added pieces offensively in hopes they can help keep the machine churning in the future.

So, without further ado, let's kick things off with a big move...

1-6 | ER Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon (6'4" 254)
Kansas City trades 1-29, 1-30, 3-94 to Carolina for 1-6
I've been extremely vocal about my desire to move up for a pass rusher in order to provide game-changing talent in the front four. I see a relatively large drop-off to the next tier. Could I be wrong? Time will tell. Either way, I fully expect Veach to get aggressive with those 1st round picks and go get a guy to improve the pass rush. There may not be a better pure pass-rushing talent in this draft than Kayvon Thibodeaux, and the fact there is chatter that he could slide a bit because he's thought of as overly self-centered and arrogant could be to the Chiefs' benefit. Carolina is in a prime spot to trade out of their spot and has even opened that door, especially if one of the top two QB prospects doesn't land in their lap (and I expect they won't with trades). There's not much weakness to Thib's game, as he's a heavy-handed power rusher with a good deal of burst and bend to win the corner. He sets the edge well in the run game too, so he can be a day-one asset. I'll say this, you have to have A+ players in this league to win championships, and it's high time KC goes and gets some in the draft rather than free agency.

From Dane Brugler:

Spoiler!

STRENGTHS: Springy, instinctive athlete with long arms ... speed rush and forward lean softens the outside shoulder of blockers ... excellent flexibility and cornering
skills ... relies on a quick jab step to gain leverage and set up his stab/swipe/rip moves ... able to convert his speed to power ... shows improved timing and nuance
mid-rush, taking away his stab once he sells power to get blockers leaning in space ... rarely locked up thanks to his agile feet, allowing him to miss blockers or
explode on inside moves ... physical vs. the run to hold his ground on the edges and contain ... arrives full-speed at the ball carrier, creating violent collisions ... has a
strategic mind both on and off the field (avid chess player and created his own cryptocurrency, titled $JREAM) ... charismatic individual and a vocal leader with his
teammates ... coaches call him mature and describe him as an “educated information seeker” (head coach Mario Cristobal: “I think he’s a hungry, driven guy.”) ...
highly decorated career and led the Ducks in tackles for loss and sacks each of the past three seasons ... his 35.5 tackles for loss ranked fourth-most in the FBS over
that span (2019-21).
WEAKNESSES: Narrow torso, lean legs and doesn’t have an ideal build by NFL standards ... needs to add more bulk to his body ... still developing his rhythm and plan
at the top of his rush ... needs to improve his finishing skills as a tackler, especially in the pocket ... flows with the action and can be late to dissect play design ...
allowed running backs to separate from him when dropping in space ... plays strong, but stack-and-shed mechanics are just average ... gets himself in trouble with
after-the-whistle plays and needs to play smarter overall (flagged 12 times over his career, including seven times in 2021) ... didn’t face many high-level offensive
tackles in 2021 ... missed two games because of a left ankle sprain (September 2021) ... will rub some the wrong way (NFL scout: “He’s a confident player, but the
arrogance gets old quickly. It’s not an endearing trait.”).
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Oregon, Thibodeaux lined up as a boundary pass rush linebacker in former defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter’s 3-4 base scheme.
The highest-ranked recruit in Oregon history, he helped the Ducks to three consecutive Pac-12 championship games (two wins) and led the team in tackles for loss
and sacks all three seasons, becoming the fourth unanimous All-American in school history as a junior. Although he needs to continue filling out his frame,
Thibodeaux is physical vs. the run and rushes with upfield urgency and cornering skills to skirt blockers. His go-to move is a powerful jab step that helps open up his
options, but he is still learning how to efficiently patch together his rush moves. Overall, Thibodeaux isn’t a fluid mover, and his impact runs hot-and-cold, but he
understands how to create leverage as a pass rusher with his length, flexibility and hand strength. He draws comparisons to Jadeveon Clowney with NFL teams
and has the talent to develop into a high-end starter if he stays committed.

2-50 | DT Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma (6'4" 290)
Winfrey to me is an absolute wrecking ball coming through the line. He's got suspect eyes to get off the ball, but once that launch button is hit look out because he's coming hard and fast. Drew Boylhart thinks he might make a move to DE in the mold of Marcellus Wiley with the upside to be a Michael Strahan/Bruce Smith type of big end. I'm uncertain of the projection to DE, but as a 3-tech that can wreak havoc? Absolutely. I see Winfrey taking snaps at both end and tackle in KC depending on downs but may settle in at DT in replacement of Chris Jones in time if he doesn't become a terror off the edge first. One thing KC has to do in this draft is increase its sack potential and Winfrey can absolutely do that, plus he has the drive to be great.

From Dane Brugler:

Spoiler!

STRENGTHS: Intimidating size with rare wingspan and length ... plays like a bull in a China shop ... heavy, powerful hands to beat up and displace blockers ... forces his
way through bodies with rip/swipe moves to create his own rush lanes ... able to scrape laterally until he finds the weak spot on the line of scrimmage ... uses his
length to lock out and control blockers ... outstanding effort to chase plays up and down the line ... forceful tackler with outstanding grip strength to finish once he
gets his hands on the ball carrier ... blocked a FG in 2020 ... outstanding backfield production with 40.5% of his tackles occurring in the backfield ... dominant Senior
Bowl performance during the week and earned game MVP honors.
[185]
WEAKNESSES: High cut with lower body stiffness ... below average change of direction skills ... struggles to break down in small spaces (like the backfield), leading to
missed tackles and production left on the field ... too willing to sacrifice his balance for the bull rush, slamming into blockers and ending up on the ground ... plays
with tall pads and allows blockers to get underneath him ... marginal instincts and flows with the action instead of tracking the football ... undisciplined and still
maturing on and off the field (nine penalties in his 23 games at Oklahoma) ... most of his weight is in his upper half ... averaged only 1.9 tackles per game in 2021 and
didn’t have more than three tackles in any game as a senior.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Oklahoma, Winfrey lined up at nose guard in former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s 3-3-5 base scheme. It was tough to get an
accurate read on him in the Sooners’ slanting front, however, his skills were unleashed at the Senior Bowl and allowed him to show scouts his flashes of dominance.
Winfrey has an imposing frame and length that no blocker wants to deal with, playing with the shock in his hands to jar blockers or toss bodies from his path. His
tendency to play tall and inability to break down and be flexible leads to missed plays in the backfield. Overall, Winfrey needs to improve his pad level and play
discipline, but his size, energy and the power in his hands help him to terrorize blockers. He has NFL starting-level traits.

2-62 | WR Alec Pierce, Cincinnati (6'3" 211)
If the Chiefs are committed to becoming a bigger team at WR to beat zone coverage, then Alec Pierce makes a ton of sense. Despite his speed in shorts, he doesn't create as much separation as you'd like but he's getting better at it. He's tough at the catch point and has sneaky agility in/out of breaks. I'm not worried about this kid learning a bigger, more sophisticated route tree as he was an Academic All-American that finished his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 3-1/2 years. He's also already familiar with some of the concepts the Chiefs deploy. I think, once you polish this kid up, he'll become a very solid X WR in this league that can take the top off from time-to-time.

From Dane Brugler:

Spoiler!

STRENGTHS: Tall, angular frame ... swift strider, and accelerates quickly to stack corners vertically ... accomplished prep high jumper and volleyball player with above-average
high-pointing and leaping skills ... tracks the football naturally downfield ... the game appears to slow down for him at the catch point, allowing him to make
graceful adjustments on the ball ... gives his quarterback a large target thanks to his size and strong hands to finish over defensive backs ... sharp footwork in his
releases to slip past the jam ... played extensively as a gunner on special teams his first two years (seven tackles), and coaches experimented with him at linebacker as
a freshman ... made Bruce Feldman’s annual Freak List and broke Cincinnati’s skill-position record with a 675-pound deadlift ... became fifth player in school history to
earn CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American honors ... named a 2021 team captain ... shows the same competitive fire as both a receiver and blocker ... ranks No. 9
in school history in receiving yards (1,851).
WEAKNESSES: Ran a basic route tree in college ... has worked hard to add good weight but has a lean frame and might be near tapped out ... average play strength
and will have trouble vs. physical cornerbacks ... will use his length too liberally at times when attempting to separate at the top of routes ... average elusiveness, and
didn’t have much YAC on film ... long strider, and will be slow to gather and separate in small spaces ... underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his knee (September
2020) and missed four games; injured left shoulder (October 2020) and required a brace ... only five 100-yard receiving games in 30 career starts.
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Cincinnati, Pierce was an outside receiver in former offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s spread RPO offense. His development
was a slow burn the first three years, including an injury-riddled 2020 season, but he blossomed as Desmond Ridder’s No. 1 option in the passing game as a senior
and led the team in receiving (72.5 percent of his catches the past two seasons resulted in a first down). Pierce is physical to the football, and his heightened focus is
the same at the catch point whether he is wide open or triple-covered. Although he is still honing his route running and separation skills, he is a long, limber athlete
who has the ball skills to consistently win in the air. Overall, Pierce is still adding branches to his route tree, but he is a pass catching weapon who is at his best
vertically with his springy athleticism and ball-tracking skills. He can be a down-the-road starter.

3-103 | CB Jalyn Armour-Davis, Alabama (6'1" 197)
I'm kind of keeping track with my "go for it" attitude from the 2nd round and doing the same here in the 3rd with Armour-Davis. Yes, it's 100% true that you can't play games from the tub and that prior injury history could spell future troubles there. That said, Armour-Davis is a near-elite talent when he's on the field and that's really hard for me to ignore. If he's done being broken, you have a starting-caliber press corner on your hands.

From Dane Brugler:

Spoiler!

STRENGTHS: Checks the height, weight, speed boxes … strong reactive athleticism to break with targets at the top of the route and suffocate catch windows … stays
square and controlled in press-man to mirror different types of receivers … uses his length well to knock the ball out on slants and quick hitters … does a great job
playing through the receiver’s hands and raking the ball out … tracks the deep ball well (allowed only one catch of 25-plus yards in 2021) … flashes burst to close on
crossers, making stops before the sticks … sound high-to-low tackler and collects himself well to finish in the open field … played on every special teams coverage in
2021 … productive final season with three interceptions and zero touchdowns allowed.
WEAKNESSES: Caught on his heels in off-coverage … plays with quickness but could use more twitch in his hips and lower body … despite his timed 4.3 speed, he
struggled to recover on tape after a misstep … needs to be more detailed with his hands and jam technique … there is room for him to tighten his angles and timing to
avoid arriving early (two pass-interference penalties on the games studied) … only one full season of regular work in college … durability is a bright red flag: missed
several weeks as a senior in high school because of a right knee scope (September 2017); was forced to redshirt in his first season because of knee surgery
(September 2018); missed four games as a junior, including a hip injury (November 2021) that sidelined him for the Iron Bowl, SEC championship game, and national
championship game.
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Alabama, Armour-Davis was the right cornerback in head coach Nick Saban’s scheme, playing both man and zone. After very little
playing time his first three years on campus, he took over the starting job from Patrick Surtain II and earned All-SEC honors with a team-best three interceptions (zero
touchdowns allowed), despite missing four games because of injury. Armour-Davis does a nice job staying in phase in man coverage because of his reactive
athleticism and cover awareness, also showing the grit needed for run support. However, when talking about him to NFL teams, his medicals are the first thing they
bring up, which is something that could affect his draft grade. Overall, Armour-Davis is still developing in areas and must prove he can stay on the field, but he has
the speed, length and overall feel in coverage to play on an island in the NFL. He has the traits of an eventual NFL starter if injuries aren’t a factor.

4-121 | OT Braxton Jones, Southern Utah (6'5" 310)
I've been really high on Braxton Jones for a while now even if he hasn't popped into my mocks in some time. Jones is a guy that you can develop for a year and just might be your starting LT in 2023. If nothing else, Jones should develop into at least a competent swing tackle and might even fight to start at RT. I think the Chiefs need to invest a mid-level pick at the position and there's no player I like more in that range. If he went to a bigger school, I have little doubt he'd be an early day 2 consideration.

From Dane Brugler:

Spoiler!

STRENGTHS: Projectable frame and growth potential with elite arm length ... excellent quickness at the snap to answer edge speed ... adjusts well in space and can
redirect versus inside moves ... shows the same foot quickness in the run game, working well on the outside to reach or scoop block ... uses his upper-body strength
to control defenders ... flashes the grip strength to connect with his hands and drive with his feet ... executes combinations and quickly climbs to the second level ...
the mental part of his game has shown noticeable improvement each season (former OC Matt Wade: “He studies it ... and that bleeds through to that whole group
and makes them all better.”) ... competes with a fierce demeanor and consistently looks to finish ... durable, starting all but one game the last three seasons.
WEAKNESSES: Plays with upright posture and a light anchor ... gets pushed on his heels when he doesn’t sink and use knee-bend ... will forget his feet at times, giving
rushers an opportunity to attack his shoulder ... inconsistent with his pass-set landmarks and needs to better utilize body angles ... plays with inconsistent urgency in
his setup and hand exchange ... his placement and countermeasures aren’t on an NFL level right now ... has room on his frame to continue to fill out and strengthen
his core ... played at the FCS level with only one career game versus a Power 5 program (struggled against Arizona State on his 2021 tape).
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Southern Utah, Jones lined up at left tackle in former offensive coordinator Matt Wade’s balanced attack. A two-time All-American
at the FCS level, he was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise struggling program as the Thunderbirds managed only six wins in 40 games over the last four
seasons. With his balance and foot quickness, Jones is ascending as a pass protector and is currently a better run blocker, showing the drive strength to create
movement at contact. His bad habits (stopping his feet, letting his pads rise, lowering his eyes) could be masked in the Big Sky, but they left him out-leveraged against
Arizona State and will be magnified versus NFL competition. Overall, Jones needs improved timing, technique and anchor before he is ready for NFL reps, but his
movement skills and length are outstanding foundational traits. Although he’ll require an adjustment period, he has the tools to be a starter down the road.

4-135 | RB Pierre Strong, Jr., South Dakota State (5'11" 207)
Strong is a one-man highlight reel. While he'll be a little older than you like coming into the NFL, at a shade over 23 and 4 months on draft day, I don't care because this league chews up and spits out RBs anyhow. Strong is a dream athletic specimen at the position with a 4.37 40-yd dash, 6.95 3-cone, and an impressive 38" vertical jump. The guy, realistically, reminds me of Jamaal Charles and Charles was electric in Andy Reid's offense when he put up career highs in total yards, touchdowns, and receptions in 2013. I could see Strong flourishing in a similar fashion to Charles with his game-breaking speed and plus ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. If there were ever a RB to hope for in the draft to pair with Reid's style, this is the guy.

From Dane Brugler:

Spoiler!

STRENGTHS: Composed feet between the tackles … sets up his moves and sticks his foot in the ground to cut away from would-be tacklers … has widescreen vision,
and shows a natural feel for lane development … presses the hole before cutting back … outstanding speed on outside zone to create chunk plays and create conflict
for second-level defenders … capable receiver out of the backfield with steady hands (also went 9-for-9 for 208 yards and six touchdowns as a passer in college) …
highly productive and became just the third player in school history to reach 4,500 career rushing yards.
WEAKNESSES: Undersized and lacks ideal build or growth potential … mediocre run power and would benefit from more finishing toughness … inconsistent balance
at contact hinders his ability to break tackles … too easily grounded at first contact … not super elusive in the open field, with hints of stiffness that limit his redirect
skills … fumbled five times as a senior and needs to improve his ball protection … most of his production came vs. FCS-level competition.
SUMMARY: A four-year starter at South Dakota State, Strong was the lead back in former offensive coordinator Jason Eck’s zone scheme. After helping the
Jackrabbits to the FCS title game in the spring of 2021, he led the FCS in rushing as a senior and finished his career No. 3 all-time on the school’s rushing list (4,527
yards). Strong averaged an impressive 7.2 yards per carry during his career, mostly vs. FCS competition, but had no trouble running all over Colorado State on his
2021 tape (his only FBS opponent the past two seasons). He has home run ability when he finds the runway (30 runs of 15-plus yards) and creates conflict for secondlevel
defenders with his ability to shake, rattle and roll. Overall, Strong doesn’t have ideal build or contact balance, which might limit his pro ceiling, but he runs
with speed, tempo and controlled feet to follow his blocks to daylight, especially on outside zone. He has potential as a third-down or committee back in the right
situation.

6-200 | RB(WR) Tyler Goodson, Iowa (5'9" 197)
Kansas City trades 7-233, 7-243 to New England for 6-200 (The Chiefs actually traded identical picks to NE in 2018 for pick 198)
As a full-time or even committee RB, Goodson leaves a lot to be desired in the NFL and is probably going to be delegated to rotational duties as a pass-catching back almost exclusively. What I love is he has solid size and plenty of juice. This is a kid that ran a 4.42 40-yard and 6.76 3-cone to go with an outstanding 36.5" vertical. He's shown he can be a good receiver and he has the requisite hand size (9") to be solid in the NFL in that role. My projection? Do the exact same thing with this kid that you did with Tyreek Hill, convert him fully to WR. With Goodson's size, speed, and agility, he could be an absolute nightmare in the slot and might even be able to go full-on outside as Hill did. He has the added ability, with his work at RB, to be a huge factor on sweeps and screens and can even step back into the backfield every once in a while.

From Dane Brugler:

Spoiler!

STRENGTHS: Functional patience and vision at the line of scrimmage, doing a great job locating backside cuts … displays the lateral quickness to juke away from
pursuit without losing steam … has the footwork to competently stutter-and-go … can absorb brushes with defenders and maintain his balance … reads his blocks well
at the second level … doesn’t lose his speed on breakaway runs … solid pass-catching option thanks to his soft hands (only one drop on 38 targets in 2021) … has
experience running routes from the slot or out wide … stayed healthy in his career, and no Big Ten player produced more rushing yards over the past three seasons.
WEAKNESSES: Lean torso and overall frame for the position … not an inside banger, and runs light … braces early for contact and will choose the sideline over
grinding extra yards … bad habit of turning his back into contact instead of lowering his pads … takes too many steps at the line of scrimmage … inconsistent dropping
his hips to smoothly change directions … frantic eyes, and quick to abandon the blocking design … his pass-blocking can be a roller coaster … inexperienced on special
teams coverages … accounted for only one touchdown run in his final 10 games (194 carries) in 2021.
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Iowa, Goodson saw his carries and impact increase each year in offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz’s zone-based scheme. He led
the Hawkeyes in rushing each of his three seasons in Iowa City, including career bests as a junior, finishing top five in the Big Ten in rushing yards. Goodson has
athletic footwork with adequate vision and patience to work to open space. However, he is too much of a finesse back who struggles to create through contact or
finish in tight quarters. Overall, Goodson has NFL-quality lateral quickness and pass-catching skills, but his average explosiveness and run toughness will limit his
touches at the next level. His best path to an NFL roster spot will be to find a team that values his receiving ability.

7-251 | FS Nazeeh Johnson, Marshall (5'10" 199)
If you want a twitched-up, elite athlete that can compete at FS or NB, then look no further than Nazeeh Johnson. This kid is a mighty mouse at 5'10" and 199 pounds but runs a 4.35 forty, 6.97 3-cone, and had a 42" vertical and 10'9" broad jump. He's the type of player you look at and think he might be able to develop into a faster version of Tyrann Mathieu, which is what I have him as. He's got the tackles, PBUs, and interceptions I like to see from a guy you're going to take a shot on late. Johnson has played CB and FS in his career. Veach has always liked smaller free safeties that can match up in coverage so I see this kid as a potential fit (see going after Earl Thomas when he came on and then snagging Mathieu).

From Dane Brugler:

Spoiler!

SUMMARY: Nazeeh (NAH-zee) Johnson was an all-conference receiver and defensive back at Millbrook High, rushing for 1,093 yards and posting four interceptions as
a senior. He heard from several FCS programs but accepted a preferred walk-on spot at Marshall (put on scholarship in spring 2018). A four-year starter, he rotated
between nickel and free safety and recorded consistent production each season. Johnson plays with outstanding balance in coverage with the athletic twitch to
mirror and make sudden start-stops (his elite testing numbers match his athleticism on tape). He is a solid wrap tackler, although his lack of ideal length and play
strength might be an issue in the NFL. A team captain, the coaches use phrases like “unselfish dude” and “tough as dirt” to describe him. Overall, Johnson lacks ideal
size and will be tardy with his reads at times, but his explosiveness and resilient attitude are traits worth the investment as a nickel defender and special teamer.

7-259 | LB Trey Baldwin, Louisiana Tech (6'2" 235)
I stumbled upon Trey Baldwin later in the process and have ever since been enamored with what I saw on tape. He's not some super-athletic specimen that is going to blow up the RAS stat sheet but he's very productive on the field and has adequate speed. His last two seasons have been 85 TKL, 1 SK, 7 TFL, 1 INT, 5 PD, and 94 TKL, 5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FF, and 5 PD. He's a bit of an off-the-ball LB for LA Tech and has made some big plays against the biggest competition (Ints against Miami and Miss St). He scrapes across the line well to make plays at the LOS and in space. Once he diagnoses the play, he's decisive and fires downhill, and is a solid tackler with some power in his pads. His coverage is solid enough in man and the intermediate zone to make some plays in the passing game against RBs and TEs.

From Tony Pauline:

Spoiler!

Positives: Instinctive linebacker who plays smart, disciplined football. Explosive, fires up the field, and sells out defending the run. Effectively collapses outside-in when pursuing plays, gets depth on pass drops, and covers a decent amount of area on the field. Hard hitter who drives his shoulders through ball handlers yet remains disciplined with assignments. Breaks down well and throws his body around the field.
Negatives: Lacks great pursuit speed. Easily slowed by blocks. Marginal production in coverage.
Analysis: Baldwin is smart and tough but possesses average size and speed.

Roster Projection

QB: P. Mahomes, C. Henne
RB: C. Edwards-Helaire, R. Jones II, P. Strong Jr, D. Gore
FB: M. Burton
TE: T. Kelce, N. Gray, J. Fortson
WR: J. Smith-Schuster, M. Valdes-Scantling, M. Hardman, A. Pierce, J. Gordon, T. Goodson
OL: O. Brown Jr, J. Thuney, C. Humphrey, T. Smith, A. Wylie, G. Christian, N. Allegretti, A. Reiter, B. Jones
DE: F. Clark, K. Thibodeaux, P. Winfrey, M. Danna, J. Kaindoh
DT: C. Jones, D. Nnadi, T. Stallworth, T. Wharton, K. Saunders
LB: W. Gay Jr, N. Bolton, J. Carter, E. Lee, T. Baldwin
CB: L. Sneed, R. Fenton, D. Baker, J. Armour-Davis, L. Barcoo
DB: J. Reid, J. Thornhill, D. Bush, Z. Anderson, N. Johnson
ST: H. Butker, T. Townsend, J. Winchester