The Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl window is wide open. Andy Reid and company have the biggest competitive advantage in sports: a superstar quarterback on a rookie deal. Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes is already one of the best passers in the league, and now it’s time for Kansas City to build a dominant team around him. Building a champion starts with hitting on draft picks, especially the early ones. The Chiefs own the 29th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and could use this pick in a variety of ways to improve the roster.
Options for Kansas City Chiefs First Round Pick
Greedy Williams/Byron Murphy
The Kansas City Chiefs ultimately didn’t make it to the Super Bowl because their defense could not stop the pass. Say what you will about Dee Ford lining up offside, Kansas City lost because they couldn’t stop Tom Brady from converting three separate third and 10’s with the game on the line. The Chiefs led the league in sacks but still allowed the second-most passing yards in the league. The reason for that lies in a secondary which couldn’t cover anyone. An already-weak cornerback depth chart was made weaker when Steven Nelson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chances are, one of Greedy Williams or Byron Murphy won’t be available by the time Kansas City is on the clock. However, there is a decent chance that one of the two is still there. If one is on the board, Kansas City needs to make the selection. Williams is a versatile defender capable of playing multiple schemes while Murphy is a better press corner with a stronger nose for the ball. Both players have their own strengths and weaknesses but would be immediate upgrades on a struggling secondary.
Dexter Lawrence
If Murphy and Williams aren’t on the board, the Chiefs should address their defensive line. Kansas City couldn’t stop the run in 2018, finishing the season as 30th-ranked run defense per DVOA. Kansas City needs to find somebody capable of plugging up the interior of that defensive line, and the best player likely available is defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence.
Lawrence won’t offer much as a pass-rusher, but he’s one of the best in the nation at taking up space and stuffing the run. He constantly beats one-on-one blocking and doesn’t get overpowered by double teams. He’s absurdly strong, posting a positional-best 36 bench press reps at the NFL Combine. Athleticism is one thing, but the film shows that Lawrence knows how to use his ridiculous strength. He won’t solve Kansas City’s defensive woes on his own, but drafting him would be a great first step in shoring up the defensive line.
Clelin Ferrell
The 2019 NFL Draft is stacked to the brim with edge talent, so it’s entirely possible that a player like Clelin Ferrell falls to the Chiefs. Ferrell is a three-year starter from Clemson, compiling 27 sacks and 50.5 tackles-for-loss during his collegiate tenure. He played in a 4-3 defense at college, making him a natural fit for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
Perhaps what’s best about Ferrell is his versatility. While he’s an accomplished pass rusher, he’s just as good against the run. According to Sharp Football Stats, the Chiefs allowed 6.4 yards-per-carry on runs off left tackle and 7.3 yards-per-carry on runs off right tackle. As it is, Kansas City needs to find replacements for Dee Ford and Justin Houston. Ferrell can play Ford’s role as a pass rusher while probably offering an upgrade as a run defender.
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