Current PFF owner and NBC broadcaster Cris Collinsworth got in on the mock draft action on Tuesday, and the craziest pick of all belonged to the Kansas City Chiefs. With the final pick in the first round, the former wide receiver decided that the Chiefs should select quarterback Hendon Hooker out of Tennessee.
In his final mock draft of 2023, Cris Collinsworth has the #Chiefs at 31 taking…
Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker. 🧐 #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/42fTijwObZ
— Devon Clements (@DevclemNFL) April 25, 2023
PFF’s Cris Collinsworth Has Chiefs Select Hendon Hooker in Mock Draft
Needless to say, this pick raised a few eyebrows even with the analysts joining Collinsworth, so the PFF owner took some time to explain why he had the Chiefs select Hendon Hooker in his mock draft.
“You know what, the only thing that really knocks the Chiefs out of contention is if something happens to Patrick [Mahomes] for four or five games…if you get Hendon Hooker for the next five years…he does a lot of good things.”
Basically, Collinsworth’s argument comes down to positional value. Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in football, and nobody could truly replace him in this offense, but Hooker could keep the ship afloat if Mahomes misses some time with injury. Kansas City’s current backup quarterback is Blaine Gabbert, and there is no denying that a healthy version of Hendon Hooker offers considerably more upside than the journeyman backup.
That being said, with all due respect to Collinsworth and PFF at large, it’s still not a good pick for a mock draft. Yes, the Chiefs boast one of the best rosters in football, but there is always room for improvement. Kansas City desperately needs some more playmaking weapons on offense, and the defense wasn’t anything special last year. The team should go with the best player available, and there were several good players left on the board that Collinsworth passed up.
Who the Chiefs Could Select Instead
The Hendon Hooker selection might have been the strangest decision Collinsworth made during the PFF mock draft, but it was far from the only one. Somehow, the former wide receiver doesn’t believe that Jaxon Smith-Njigba is worthy of a first-round pick.
While the Ohio State product will likely be long gone by the time the Chiefs are actually on the clock, if he somehow falls to 31, Kansas City needs to pull the trigger. For my money, he’s the best receiver in this class, and while he isn’t the fastest guy, he’s a great route runner and could immediately establish himself as the second target in this passing attack.
If we’re looking at a more realistic board, the best option for the Kansas City Chiefs is probably Will McDonald. As discussed in a previous Chiefs mock draft, the edge rusher is a perfect scheme fit, as he excels at getting after the quarterback and his shortcomings against the run won’t be a big deal, as opposing offenses will have to throw the ball early and often to keep up with Kansas City’s high-flying passing attack.
Alternatively, if the Chiefs do want to focus on the offensive side of the ball, they could go after a wide receiver. While Smith-Njigba is likely long gone, there is a chance that one of Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison, or Quentin Johnston falls to 31. All three players would be welcome additions to the club and would only make Kansas City’s lethal offense all the more deadly. With all due respect to PFF, any of those aforementioned picks would make more sense for the Chiefs in the mock draft.
Main Photo: Caitie McMekin – USA Today Sports
