The Kansas City Chiefs lost several key defensive playmakers in the offseason, and one mock draft cannot replace all the departed talent. After trading Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams and watching Jaylen Watson, Bryan Cook, and Leo Chenal leave for various free agent destinations, Kansas City’s defense will look dramatically different next year. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is one of the best minds in the game, but no coach can win without high-level talent.
With this in mind, Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports believes the Kansas City Chiefs will select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the ninth-overall pick. Downs, a Junior, is an elite talent and one of the top players in the draft, regardless of position and should make an immediate impact for this team if this mock comes to fruition.
“Somehow, the NFL allows Caleb Downs to drop to the Chiefs,” Dajani writes. “He’s one of the top players in this class regardless of position, and the only defensive back to record 250 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, and five interceptions over the past three seasons.”
Chiefs Select Caleb Downs In Latest Mock Draft
Most safeties aren’t in the running to be top-10 picks, but most safeties aren’t Caleb Downs. The Ohio State product truly can do everything and perform at a high level. Downs is perhaps most exciting when playing in the box, as he doesn’t shy away from contact and hits like a linebacker. The potential top-10 pick has the size to stick with tight ends in coverage, the strength to take down running backs in the box, and the football IQ to take the most direct route to the ball carrier and prevent yards before contact. He also has the speed to meet running backs on the edge on outside runs and prevent big gains.
Of course, he’s more than just a glorified linebacker, as Downs is more than capable of dropping into zones and taking away the deep part of the field. The safety has a strong nose for the ball with the ability to diagnose route patterns and break on the ball before the quarterback releases the pass. This high level of anticipation is vital in today’s pass-heavy NFL. A player with this level of versatility would help any NFL team, but how would he fit with the Chiefs?
Kansas City’s Depth Chart
While McDuffie and Watson earned most of the headlines, Kansas City’s safety depth took a hit with Bryan Cook’s departure. Cook wasn’t a superstar by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s an above-average starter. Alohi Gilman is a solid option, but someone must step up at the other safety position – especially with the questionable depth at cornerback.
If this mock draft comes to fruition, Chiefs fans should be thrilled with this selection. Caleb Downs is a premium talent at a position of need who should immediately step in and be one of the best players on the defense. He’d be a fit in any scheme, but Steve Spagnuolo’s creativity should maximize Downs’ potential.
