This weekend, the best seniors in college football had a chance to meet and play in Mobile Alabama. Here is a mock draft as we get ready to gear up for draft season.
This weekend has been a great opportunity for the best seniors in the nation to move their draft stock up, and give scouts one last chance to see them play. While the Chiefs still have business to tend to on the field this weekend, it is never too early to start thinking about the future.
32. Alex Leatherwood Alabama OT Alabama
64. Ifeatu Melifonwu CB Syracuse
95. Sage Surrat WR Wake Forrest
136. Caden Sterns S Texas
175. Drake Jackson IOL Kentucky
176. Joshua Kaindoh DE Florida State
180. Garret Wallow LB TCU
211. Tre Norwood CB Oklahoma
One of the biggest risers from this week’s Senior Bowl has been Alex Leatherwood, who with his strong performance made a case to be a first-round selection. With uncertainty at tackle for the Chiefs in the future given the injuries suffered by Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, as well as contract decisions looming, it makes sense for the Chiefs to pick up a tackle and Leatherwood would be a good fit.
He showed major improvement from 2019-2020 with his film and had more consistent play, specifically with his footwork in his vertical pass sets. Alabama hit on a lot of deep balls this season, meaning Leatherwood knows the importance of blocking for extended periods of time, something necessary when protecting Patrick Mahomes.
Leatherwood will not be the Chiefs’ only offensive line pickup, I think in the middle rounds Drake Jackson would provide excellent value. He will have the ability to play either guard or center and would be able to compete right away for a starting spot.
If he isn’t ready to play yet then he will provide quality depth, and while he won’t ever blow anyone away with his athletic ability he plays physical and was outstanding in pass protection while at Kentucky.
I would also look for the Chiefs to add more depth to the secondary, as well as a potential starter in Melifonwu in the second round. He has the size the Chiefs want in their corners and plays with physicality along the line of scrimmage.
I think he compares closely to Charvarius Ward, with his arm length and ability to play tight man. I think the Chiefs will also look to add depth at the Safety spot with Caden Sterns, who had excellent range and is physical at the point of attack.
Tyrann Mathieu and Daniel Sorensen each don’t have much longer left on their contracts, and as much as the Chiefs like to play with three safeties on the field next year would be a good time for them to groom Sterns to take over for one of them in the future.
Sage Surrat could be a potential homerun pick for the Chiefs, and be a great possession receiver for Mahomes moving forward. He is a bigger physical corner, and he fits the possession role closely, but he has a little something extra after the catch, which is referred to as juice.
Surrat wins one on one’s which given that the Chiefs have Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, it would seem he will get a lot of those kinds of looks if drafted by the Chiefs. If drafted by the Chiefs he would have a chance to be an immediate impact player.
The Chiefs will also likely try to bolster a front seven that could lose some pieces to free agency. Joshua Kaindoh is an athletic specimen and has a massive frame, as well as some twitch that could make him a tough matchup.
He will need some refinement and add some weight but he could add some pass rush for the Chiefs in 2021, as well as work to become a potential starter in a couple of seasons.
Linebacker Garret Wallow from TCU could add some depth to the LB core, as well as be a starter on every special team’s unit. His mobility could also allow him to play in some of the Chiefs dime looks, as well as other passing down situations.
Tre Norwood could help provide depth for the secondary, but he would likely be in a similar situation to what BoPete Keyes was in this season for KC.
