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It’s time to check in on our final Kansas City Chiefs mock draft with the annual event slated to start later in April. The two-time defending AFC champions did a great job addressing needs in free agency by adding top-end talent to both sides of the ball.
Kansas City also filled a major holes on its offensive line by trading for a new left tackle in Orlando Brown Jr., which cost a pretty penny in terms of draft capital, including its 31st overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The good news? There’s a lot of depth when it comes to defense in this draft, which is great news for a team that doesn’t have much more to be alarmed about on offense, especially with such strong reinforcements in place for superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Below, we provide you a full seven-round Kansas City Chiefs mock draft.
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Kansas City Chiefs mock draft: Pass rush gets big boost on Day 2
Second round, 58th pick: Payton Turner, defensive end, Houston
Kansas City created some versatility on the defensive line by signing Jarran Reed away from the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. He can play both on the interior and out on the boundary. The Chiefs also boast one of the best edge pass rushers in Frank Clark. With that said, there’s more of a need for another true edge guy. Alex Okafor was second at that position in sacks last season for the Chiefs with three.
Payton Turner (6-foot-5, 270 pounds) is an ideal fit in the Chiefs’ four-man front. The former Houston standout recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in five games this past season. He also had 19 hurries in 2019, per Pro Football Focus.
Turner has surprising speed out on the edge, too. And while he’s seen as something of a project due to the lower competition level he faced and the rather raw skill set, the upside is unlimited. Kansas City can afford to take it slow with Turner as he adds more pass-rush moves to the mix. He’s an ideal late second-round pick, especially with Reed, Clark and Chris Jones already in the trenches.
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Kansas City Chiefs mock draft: Day 3 targets in 2021 NFL Draft
- Fourth round, 144th pick: Rodarius Williams, cornerback, Oklahoma State
- Fifth round, 175th pick: Frank Darby, wide receiver, Arizona State
- Fifth round, 181st pick: Riley Cole, linebacker, South Alabama
- Sixth round, 207th pick: Greg Eiland, guard, Mississippi State
For a team like the Chiefs, Day 3 of the NFL Draft is all about building depth and finding hidden gems. Most of these players will not make an immediate impact as rookies. It’s all about building for the future.
Rodarius Williams is a bigger and more physical cornerback prospect, which fits well with coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s aggressive style. Williams was largely avoided by quarterbacks at Oklahoma State last season, leading to speculation that he could potentially be a shutdown guy in the NFL. A multi-year starter for the Cowboys, he could even make an impact as a rookie.
As for the Frank Darby selection, it’s not a secret that Kansas City was in the market for a wide receiver during NFL free agency but didn’t really come away with anyone. While he’s a little raw, the 6-foot-1 Darby can stretch the field. He averaged 19.9 yards per reception while hauling in eight touchdowns for the Sun Devils in 2019 before playing just two games this past season.
Riley Cole could be an initial add on special teams and translates into being a potential starting linebacker in a Chiefs defense that tends to run a 4-2-5 base scheme. Meanwhile, Greg Eiland is a physical guard project who could end up starting next to recently-signed star guard Joe Thuney moving forward, because there’s no telling how many years Kyle Long will play for.
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