Last Second Glance: Prospects the Chiefs should look into

The Draft is here. Brett Veach has spent the first six weeks of the NFL offseason sewing back together the weakness that was our patchwork offensive line. With no glaring need here are a few picks I think Kansas City should take a deeper look at.

I love the NFL Draft. As a child, I remember spending an entire Saturday watching the first three rounds take all day. When the NFL decided to take it into primetime I was enthralled, now that I have a three-day event to look forward to every year, I can’t fully express the sporting joy it brings to yours truly. I know I am a fan first, an analyst second, and an evaluator way down the list.

With that, here are few guys I’ve watched, I really like, and who I think could contribute in the Red and Gold at Arrowhead Stadium.

Quinn Meirnerz: IOL UW-Whitewater

I know what you’re probably thinking. The Chiefs don’t need another interior offensive lineman. The truth is that only Joe Thuney is under contract after the 2021 season among the interior lineman. The Chiefs need to look to add depth – affordable depth – at all positions.

Meirnerz is a big specimen at 6’2 320 who is explosive with great footwork and was dominant against his D3 competition. He shined at the Senior Bowl and has the ability to play both guard and center at the next level. He’s a versatile offensive lineman that Andy Reid and Andy Heck both like that could spend a season learning from the talent that is currently in place.

Keith Taylor: CB Washington

There has been a lot of speculation and desire for the Chiefs to draft Taylor’s counterpart in Washington Elijah Molden. I have come to the realization that GM Brett Veach is not going to draft a corner in the early rounds, so that is why I like Taylor. He is long and physical at 6’2 190, could add some weight to that frame, he plays aggressive and is good against the run.

He has flown under the radar a bit with the early-round speculation of Molden at UW. He tends to give up too much cushion and is not the best man defender. He is worthy of a late-round pick and could look to grow with pros like Charvairous Ward and L’Jarious Sneed.

Sage Surratt: WR Wake Forrest

Many mocks are looking for the Chiefs to draft a wideout early, and I tend to fall into that category. It’s a deep class and the Chiefs have been linked to many. Surratt is not a name that I had heard. He sat out 2020 and has some injury concerns but when he is on the field he is uber-productive.

A big target at 6’2 215, he adds another type of receiver to the arsenal. Surratt has large, sure hands and locates the ball extremely well in a crowd. He runs underneath routes extremely well and would be an added red-zone threat. His concerns are staying healthy and he doesn’t seem to have much of a burst. I think the talent is there to be a potential number two receiver in the league.

Jordan Smith: EDGE UAB

I’m still trying to figure out the “EDGE” position in the NFL. With the need for quality pass rushers at an all-time premium right now, it should be a priority for NFL draft rooms every year. Jordan Smith is the epitome of an EDGE guy.

Standing nearly 6’7 with an angular frame he has a great motor and provides great pressure with a knack of taking the quarterback down. He has the potential to play every down because he has good cover skills for his size.

He needs to work on getting off blocks and playing against the run. The one thing I love more than anything about Smith is his ability to persevere, originally at Florida he lost his scholarship due to a personal mistake, went the JUCO route and ended up at Butler County Community College in El Derado before becoming a star at UAB. He will be the first Blazer drafted since 2015.

Hunter Long: TE Boston College

I know I’m greedy. I have been saying in the past two drafts the Chiefs need to draft a second tight end to compliment Kelce but to also replace him someday. I’m aware Kelce seems to be defying the odds and is only getting better, the time is coming though.

I’m not a huge fan of the Chiefs tight end room outside of Kelce and I think Hunter Long would be a huge upgrade to anybody in there. A good size target at 6’5 255 who is an excellent route runner, does well to get open, and really catches anything thrown his way. He is not as dynamic as Kelce over the top, but he does an absolute job across the middle of the field. He looks slow on film but the guy has a knack for being open, I would be thrilled to add him to the roster.

Dylan Moses: LB Alabama

The Chiefs under Brett Veach have always looked to SEC for defensive players. Dylan Moses is one the Chiefs draft room should keep an eye on. Offered scholarships from both Alabama and LSU in the 8th grade, Moses has an NFL trajectory for quite some time.

He has all the attributes you would want from a Mike linebacker. He’s athletic, has good instincts, real fluid movements, and is disciplined. Injuries are his concern missing parts of three seasons at Bama with them. Size at only 235 is also causing a drop in draft stock. If a guy is good enough to be a team captain at Alabama, I think he’s worth a mid-round flyer to add depth but from everything I saw this is a man with the potential to be a solid NFL contributor for a long time and a potential leader in the locker room.

This week the lives of 259 men are forever going to change. That is a pretty special thing to watch. Enjoy watching the draft, feel free to comment and leave feedback on who you think the Chiefs should draft this year.