With Orlando Brown being traded to the Chiefs, the offensive line for them has been completely refurbished. Now, what should the Chiefs do first heading into this 2021 NFL Draft?
Hello again everyone and welcome to another week of the ArrowChop! This is the column where we look at the positives/negatives of a certain Chiefs/NFL issue and look at both sides of the aisle. Then you, the readers, will come to your conclusions after I lay out the case. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as we break down this week’s hot topic.
On April 23rd, 2021, the Kansas City Chiefs filled their last need for the refurbished offensive line: a solid left tackle. The Chiefs traded away four picks (2021 first, third, and fourth-round picks and a 2022 fifth-round pick) to the Baltimore Ravens for star left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and two picks (2021 second round and a 2022 sixth round) per Adam Schefter:
Orlando Brown has been a stud at left tackle, especially in pass blocking; in 389 pass-blocking attempts last season, Brown allowed zero quarterback sack or hits per PFF. In a span of two months, Veach, the mastermind GM, has now revitalized the offensive line; it is now no longer a need for the Chiefs. The question now rises on what the Chiefs should now do in this draft.
The Chiefs have two late second-round picks in the 2021 draft (No. 58 and No.63). Some fans say that they should persue a cornerback to play along Sneed and boost the deffensive back room; others believe the Chiefs should take a WR2 to play alongside Hill, and give Mahomes yet another weapon on that offense.
With that all said, what should the Chiefs’ target first in the 2021 NFL Draft? Let’s break down this case, and find out:
The Chiefs should take a CB
This side believes so as such:
With cornerbacks #1 and #2 being Sneed and Ward, the Chiefs need someone to take that number three spot and step up. Fenton did a decent job last season, but the Chiefs could snag an interesting cornerback prospect with their 58th, thoroughly improving their secondary. It would also bolster the depth of that CB core. One of those prospects is Ifeatu Melifonwu from Syracuse.
Melifonwu is an athletic 6’2″, 212-pound cornerback who looks down upon a ton of receivers in the NFL (in terms of height). He can stay with receivers downfield, and he can stay with his guarding assignments with ease and without any screwups. He’s not someone who will get you a motherload of interceptions, but he’ll be able to cover whoever he has to. As of yesterday, he’s projected to go 61st, so the Chiefs could easily snag him here.
Another CB prospect the Chiefs could chase after is Tyson Campbell from the University of Georgia. He’s also 6’2″, but he’s a bit slimmer than Melifonwu, coming in at 185-pounds. Campbell has developed exceptionally at Georgia, refining his ability to stick with assignments and to jar the ball out of the hands of the receiver. He also has excellent speed, posting a 4.4 40-yard dash time; this shows that he can stick easily with faster sot receivers.
As of yesterday, he’s projected to go 60th, so the Chiefs can snag him at 58 unless another team steals him away. Hopefully, that won’t happen.
Why the Chiefs should focus here
If the Chiefs were to draft a receiver first, Melifonwu and Campbell would probably be gone as the Chiefs’ next turn to pick would be at 63. The Chiefs could easily select a corner with the 58th pick and then focus on drafting a wide receiver with their next pick as they are both big needs for them. Both Campbell and Melifonwu have amazing upsides, so the Chiefs shouldn’t pass on them in any way, shape, or form.
Defense wins championships, as the adage goes. While the Chiefs needed an o-line, they also needed a bit more help within the secondary. Also, since Breeland hasn’t been resigned yet, drafting a CB first is now stressed.
The Chiefs should take a WR
This side believes so as such:
It’s clear that the Chiefs need a WR2; the Chiefs couldn’t snag one in free agency, so the draft is the best way to snag a receiver with a lot of upsides to make the competition for WR2 that much more challenging this offseason between Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle, or whoever they will draft with the 58th pick. They already have speed, so they need someone physical and someone who can catch most 50/50 balls thrown his way. Mahomes needs another threat to be able to catch and to help open up the secondary for Hill and Kelce to ravage against.
The answer might be clear with WR Tylan Wallace from Oklahoma State University. He may be 5’11” and 193-pounds, but he’s one of those receivers that can make those 50/50 balls that Mahomes darts his way. Along with that, he has excellent hand-eye coordination and can work to make extra strides for a few more yards. His route running, along with his catching, are great and could easily be developed with this Chiefs’ offensive system. Wallace is a projected early third-round selection, so he’ll be available once the Chiefs’ turn to pick comes around.
Another prospect the Chiefs can look at is Nico Collins from Michigan. He’s a 6’4″, 215-pound giant with a massive wingspan that can also catch the 50/50 balls that Mahomes throws to him, using his height and strength as an advantage. His downfield vision is amazing, and while he’s not as fast as most receivers, his hand-eye coordination and strength can make up for it. He’s projected to be the 100th pick, so availability isn’t an issue here.
Why the Chiefs should focus here first
Once the Chiefs secure another wide receiver, their offense is set for the rest of the season. The Chiefs also have no third-round picks, so they can’t wait to select either of these prospects; they must select them in this round. After the Chiefs get yet another weapon added to their arsenal, Mahomes will be set for this season.
This point, however, is a bit null as it is not projected that either of these players will be picked within the five-pick timespan they have until the next pick (63rd).
What do you think the Chiefs should draft first? Leave a comment down below to join the discussion, and be sure to follow me on Twitter @HunterStanton8 and @ArrowheadLive. Thanks for reading, and have a fantastic day.
