by AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs
1 (32). Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
2 (63). Willie Gay Jr., LB, Mississippi State
3 (96). Lucas Niang, T, TCU
4 (138). L’Jarius Sneed, S, Louisiana Tech
5 (177). Michael Danna, DE, Michigan
7 (237). Bopete Keyes, CB, Tulane
The Chiefs have a clear system. Outrun and outscore the opponent. It is the reason why they made it to the Super Bowl and won it all last season. They needed another running back, some help in the secondary at corner and offensive line for depth.
The Chiefs decided to go running back first and took the first one off the board. They decided to go with Clyde Edwards-Helaire when J.K. Dobbins, Jonathan Taylor and D’Andre Swift were available. Edwards-Helaire is a solid running back who picks up the blitz well and has decent hands. He will be productive in the NFL. There were just others better at doing the same things.
The Chiefs did address offensive tackle with Lucas Niang in the third round. Niang will be a nice NFL tackle after taking some time to learn and develop behind Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz.
In the second round, picking Willie Gay Jr. was a surprise to me. He has prototypical linebacker size and plenty of speed to get from sideline to sideline. He will provide plenty of ability to Kansas City’s linebacking corps. I was just shocked they did not grab a cornerback since I saw that as their greatest need.
The corner selection did not come until the seventh round with Bopete Keyes. This is a miss in a deep corner class with loads of talent. The Chiefs still need a talented corner.
Draft Grade: C
Way Too Early Prediction: 12-4
Los Angeles Chargers
1 (6). Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
1 (23). Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
4 (112). Joshua Kelley, RB, UCLA
5 (151). Joe Reed, WR, Virginia
6 (186). Alohi Gilman, S, Notre Dame
7 (220). K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State
The Chargers still have lots of talent on their roster and should quickly begin to bounce back from last season. Tyrod Taylor has been given the nod but I still expect the 2018 Cleveland Browns situation to happen again. Taylor will likely start a couple games then the team will be handed over to a rookie.
That rookie is Justin Herbert. The sixth overall pick is tall, has a nice arm and can scramble. There are some similarities to a player like Josh Allen except Allen’s arm is stronger. Herbert has some inconsistency and accuracy issues to work around. If he fixes those, he could be a long-time starter for the Chargers. Herbert will likely win more games than Taylor at the helm.
Not only will Herbert have talented veterans to throw to, like Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but he now also has Joe Reed from Virginia. Reed is quick and has power in the way he runs. Reed will make a nice receiver in LA. He also was an excellent return man at Virginia and can rip off some massive returns.
A slot receiver might have been the biggest steal in the whole draft. K.J. Hill dropping to the seventh round is a crime. Hill might not be the fastest, biggest or strongest, but he is the Ohio State all-time catch leader. He is a silky-smooth route runner and knows how to get open. He will have a great NFL career. I believe he will become one of the best slot receivers in the game.
Melvin Gordan is no longer a member of the Chargers which means Austin Ekeler is the starting running back. Justin Jackson is his backup but the team had no third back. They do now with the addition of Joshua Kelley. Not only is he a good runner, he can also catch out of the backfield quite well.
The best pick for the Chargers came from trading back into the first round at 23. There they selected Kenneth Murray, K-9 as he was called at Oklahoma. Murray is an animal and jumps off the screen. He is an exceptional run stopper and great on the blitz. Murray might be considered a downhill type of player, but his coverage skills are underrated. He will start immediately and dominate.
The last guy to mention is Alohi Gillman of Notre Dame. The safety is some great added depth to an already loaded secondary.
Draft Grade: A
Way Too Early Prediction: 8-8
Denver Broncos
1 (15). Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
2 (46). KJ Hamler, WR, Penn State
3 (77). Michael Ojemudia, CB, Iowa
3 (83). Lloyd Cushenberry III, C, LSU
3 (95). McTelvin Agim, DT, Arkansas
4 (118). Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri
5 (178). Justin Strnad, LB, Wake Forest
6 (181). Netane Muti, G, Fresno State
7 (252). Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Florida
7 (254). Derrek Tuszka, DE, North Dakota State
The Denver Broncos needed wide receivers to assist Courtland Sutton and Drew Lock. They did just that and nailed their draft.
Jerry Jeudy is the best route running receiver from this draft class and his quick feet can make guys miss regularly. KJ Hamler is the fastest slot receiver and is absolutely electric. Sutton, Jeudy and Hamler together is a dangerous trio.
The Broncos also grabbed some offensive line depth in Lloyd Cushenberry III and Netane Muti. Both players will be given time to develop because the Broncos line is already fairly established.
When looking at the defense, I see a need for a talented corner opposite A.J. Bouye. Bryce Callahan will be listed as the starter for now, but Michael Ojemudia will be stout competition right away. I like Ojemudia’s range and the way he tracks the ball. The Broncos scheme can help hide corners so he could develop even while being the starter.
The other notable selection was McTelvin Agim. The defensive tackle has nice size and run stopping ability. He needs to clean up his game and work on his pass rush moves, but he should have time with trial and error as a backup. The question will be if he plays DE or NT in the 3-4.
Draft Grade: A
Way Too Early Prediction: 8-8
Las Vegas Raiders
1 (12). Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
1 (19). Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State
3 (80). Lynn Bowden Jr., WR, Kentucky
3 (81). Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina
3 (100). Tanner Muse, S, Clemson
4 (109). John Simpson, G, Clemson
4 (139). Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech
The Raiders and everyone else knew their biggest needs coming into this draft. Wide receiver and cornerback. Two first round picks allowed the team to tackle those needs immediately.
The Raiders desperately wanted a burner and the lighting fast Henry Ruggs III was that guy from this draft. He can produce at all three levels and has big play potential every time he touches the ball. Another guy with that ability is Lynn Bowden Jr. The wide receiver and Youngstown native did it all at Kentucky. He can play wide receiver, running back and even quarterback. In college he reminded me a bit of Braxton Miller and I could see him used in the same way the Saints use Taysom Hill.
One pick later, the Raiders took Bryan Edwards who offers more size. Edwards will make a nice backup for Tyrell Williams.
That corner need in the first round led to Damon Arnette becoming the second Buckeye corner drafted in the first round. Playing opposite Jeff Okudah meant Arnette was thrown at a lot in his last season with Ohio State. He was tested game in and game out, yet he thrived. Arnette had an incredible season and will now get his shot at being the number one guy in Las Vegas.
The secondary also gained some more additions with Tanner Muse and Amik Robertson. The safety Muse, was a winner at Clemson. He is best around the box as a safety-linebacker hybrid. This seemed early for Muse to come off the board but the Raiders like Clemson players. As for Robertson, he was the hardest hitting corner in this draft class. He is the ideal nickel corner for the NFL and will be behind Lamarcus Joyner. I would assume the Raiders will find ways to get him on the field for some corner blitzes even.
I mentioned that the Raiders like Clemson products, well they drafted Clemson players back-to-back. John Simpson was a solid guard on a talented Clemson o-line. He will be the right guard backup to Gabe Jackson.
Draft Grade: B+
