The Kansas City Chiefs have a lot of reasons to look forward to the first two days of the 2022 NFL Draft. Six of them, in fact. Thanks in large part to the Tyreek Hill trade, the Chiefs have six selections in the first three rounds, and in this mock draft, the team finds some immediate contributors while bolstering depth at positions of need.
Take note that this exercise was performed using The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine. If a player was available when Kansas City was on the board, they were fair game. Also, keep in mind that I did not trade any of the picks, as that makes things too convoluted for the purpose of this article.
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2022 NFL Draft: Kansas City Chiefs Three Round Mock
First Round (29th Overall): Chris Olave, WR
Chris Olave probably won’t fall to the 29th pick in the NFL Draft, but crazier things have happened. This is a perfect marriage of need and value, as the Chiefs clearly need another wide receiver and Olave is one of the best prospects in this class. While he doesn’t have Tyreek Hill speed (nobody does), he still ran a 4.39 40-yard dash and might just be the best route runner in this class. He can line up all over the formation, making him the perfect chess piece for a creative offensive mind like Andy Reid. If this pick comes to fruition, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Olave step in and be the top wideout from Day 1.
First Round (30th Overall): David Ojabo, EDGE
In normal circumstances, a player as good as David Ojabo would never last until the 30th pick. However, the edge defender tore his Achilles during Michigan’s Pro Day, which gives him a realistic shot of lasting until the back half of the first. Ojabo obviously will need some time to recover, but he has the potential to develop into one of the better edge defenders in football. Put simply, that type of reward easily makes him worth the risk.
David Ojabo’s pass rush skills are INSANE pic.twitter.com/FhuK2IBo8p
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 27, 2022
Second Round (50th Overall): Roger McCreary, CB
While Ojabo will need some time before he’s ready to help the Chiefs, Roger McCreary can contribute right out of the gate. While he lacks the same upside as some of the other players in this class, he has experience playing in both man and zone schemes and has a real nose for the ball. In a suddenly stacked AFC West, the Chiefs will need to do whatever they can to slow down the potentially lethal passing attacks of the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders.
Roger McCreary NFL Draft Profile
Second Round (62nd Overall): Christian Harris, LB
Athleticism has never been more important than it is in today’s day and age, and Christian Harris is one of the most athletic linebackers in the class. A jack of all trades, Harris has the talent to line up at multiple defensive spots and do a little bit of everything at a satisfactory level. While he probably won’t be a Day 1 starter, he is a great option in sub packages and has the potential to develop into an every-down player.
Third Round (94th Overall): Ed Ingram, G
The Chiefs know better than anyone that you can never have too many talented offensive linemen. Brett Veach did a phenomenal job rebuilding the line in the 2021 offseason, but they use more help along the interior. While he is probably best suited for guard, Ingram can play center and right tackle if required, and he’s much better as a pass blocker than a run blocker. This makes him exponentially more valuable in Kansas City, as the Chiefs have one of the highest pass rates in football. If any team can live with subpar run blocking, it’s this one. Of course, it’s not like he’s an active liability in the run game…
Ed Ingram WALLOP pic.twitter.com/hYRI1DIkip
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) October 16, 2021
Third Round (103rd Overall): Phidarian Mathis, Interior Defensive Line
With the final pick of this mock draft, the Chiefs get more help on defense. Phidarian Mathis is not the most exciting player on this list, but he’s a good player to have when you share a division with Javonte Williams, Austin Ekeler, and Josh Jacobs. A true throwback player, Mathis is at his best in the middle of the field, clogging up rushing lanes and just being an immovable force of nature. While he lacks the athleticism to ever develop into a threat in the passing game, there is still value in having a run-stuffing tackle in today’s NFL.
Phidarian Mathis NFL Draft Profile
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