Chiefs Draft: Mock sends Mississippi DT Walter Nolen to Kansas City

On Monday, USA In the present day’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz revealed his second mock draft, which despatched a defensive deal with to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs with the thirty first decide of the primary spherical.

31. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: DT Walter Nolen, Mississippi

Additional funding within the offensive line can’t be completely dominated out right here, however buying and selling Joe Thuney to the Bears and ponying up huge for Jaylon Moore may wrap up the crew’s offseason plan of drastic motion for its largest vulnerability. Dropping Nolen in subsequent to Chris Jones would guarantee opponents can have their arms full with the Chiefs’ inside line for a while.

In his first mock a few weeks in the past, Middlehurst-Schwartz had the Chiefs taking Ohio State wideout Emeka Egbuka.

This time — although Egbuka continues to be on the board when the Chiefs go on the clock — he sends Nolen to Kansas Metropolis with the thirty first decide.

Once I chided ESPN’s Mel Kiper for selecting offensive deal with Kelvin Banks for the Chiefs final week, I famous that for Kansas Metropolis, “it’s virtually universally understood that now, its largest precedence is alongside the defensive position.”

Since then, the Chiefs have re-signed defensive finish Charles Omenihu and defensive deal with Mike Pennel — whereas additionally including cornerback Robert Rochell. In my thoughts, these strikes have put Kansas Metropolis right into a place the place it actually can give attention to the most effective participant obtainable with every of its picks. Nolen might be that participant — as might Banks, for that matter. (I merely disagree with Kiper that Banks shall be obtainable at 31).

As we anticipated, different analysts are beginning to get this message. Once we final examined the information six days in the past, 49% of the mock drafts since January 1 had gone with offensive linemen to Kansas Metropolis, in comparison with 34% with defensive linemen. However after we contemplate solely the 20 mocks we’ve coated since March 15, (as proven beneath), it’s 45% to 40%. It would end up that it is going to be very tough to foretell the place the Chiefs will cowl with the thirty first decide — a lot much less who it is going to be.

Additionally be aware: beginning with this text, we’re itemizing guards and tackles individually in these tables, relatively than combining them into an “OL” class.