The Kansas City Chiefs have officially settled on their 2020 NFL Draft class, as Andy Reid and company successfully added some young talent to defend their long-awaited title. When all was said and done, the Chiefs finished the draft with the following six players:
- First Round (32nd Overall): Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB
- Second Round (63rd Overall): Willie Gay Jr., RB
- Third Round (69th Overall): Lucas Niang, OT
- Fourth Round (138th Overall): L’Jarius Sneed, S
- Fifth Round (177th Overall): Mike Danna: EDGE
- Seventh Round (238th Overall): Thakarius Keyes, CB
Kansas City Chiefs 2020 NFL Draft Grade: 8.3/10
Kansas City Chiefs 2020 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Willie Gay
Based on talent and on-field readiness, linebacker Willie Gay is the most valuable player the Chiefs added. The linebacker excels in coverage and getting after the quarterback as a blitzer. He’s everything you want in a modern-day linebacker and immediately bolsters a position of need. He probably would have been off the board earlier…but we’ll get to that later.
The Head-Scratcher: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a talented running back, but taking him in the first round is hard to defend. This has nothing to do with his talent and everything to do with the relative unimportance of his position. Edwards-Helaire is a dangerous running back in space, but Andy Reid’s scheme is so good that literally every running back produces at the same rate in the passing game. Edwards-Helaire is a good runner, but every rushing attempt he gets is a play where Patrick Mahomes isn’t throwing the ball. If Edwards-Helaire eats into Mahomes’ attempts, then this could indirectly end up making the offense worse.
The Surprise: Willie Gay
As previously mentioned, linebacker Willie Gay is a great talent that was made for the modern game. However, the Mississippi State product had several character concerns that caused his stock to fall throughout the pre-draft process. Gay had multiple suspensions throughout his collegiate tenure, and the source of said suspensions was never revealed to the public. The Chiefs have the resources to get to the bottom of Gay’s suspension woes, and they obviously didn’t think the issue was too big of a deal. Until further notice, we’ll have to give the Chiefs the benefit of the doubt here.
The Steal: Lucas Niang
Most analysts had Lucas Niang going off the board in the second round, so getting him in the third is the value Kansas City got all day. In the short-term, Niang is going to start off as a swing tackle and provide valuable insurance for Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher. However, it’s not crazy to imagine him taking over in 2021. Fisher carries a $14.7 million cap hit in 2021, but only $3.2 million in dead money.
Most Likely to Turn Heads During Training Camp: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Just because I don’t like the value of the Edward-Helaire selection doesn’t mean he can’t play. Quite the opposite, actually. The running back is one of the most gifted all-around backs in the class with the ability to run through the tackles and make plays in the open field. He’s a perfect fit for the offense and should steal the show throughout training camp and into the regular season.
The Rest
It’s anyone’s guess as to whether or not the Chiefs use L’Jarius Sneed as a safety or cornerback. However, what’s not up for debate is his insane speed and ability to make plays all over the field. Sneed has good size, speed, and ball skills, but still needs to work on adding more strength to his game. He’s a solid developmental prospect that could pay off in a year or two.
Mike Danna is a high-motor player with solid strength that lacks the athleticism to be a true difference-maker at the NFL level. He’ll need some time to develop on the practice squad before he’s ready to be a regular contributor. Thakarius Keyes has the ideal build for the position, and his subpar speed won’t be as big of an issue in Kansas City’s zone-heavy approach. However, he’s still very raw and comes with a very defined ceiling.
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