The Kansas City Chiefs 2013 season is over which means ... it's 2014 mock draft season!
Indeed the 2014 NFL mock drafts are starting to pop up, nearly four months before the start of the actual draft in May (two weeks later than usual). What are the Chiefs top needs? Which positions should they target? Who will be available? All those questions will be ones we try to answer in the coming months.
To get you familiar with the early mock draft season, here are a few mock drafts to peruse.
1. Mel Kiper (ESPN): Notre Dame DE Stephon Tuitt
Read this
Here is a great write-up on Tuitt via our Steelers blog, Behind The Steel Curtain.
The Chiefs are going to be facing a decision with Tyson Jackson, who is a free agent in March. Will they re-sign him? If so, maybe you can cross Tuitt off the list. If not, this is a logical, yet boring pick.
The Chiefs have invested a LOT on defense -- first round picks Tyson Jackson, Dontari Poe, Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali and Eric Berry. Free agents Mike DeVito and Sean Smith. Seems like maybe it's the offense's turn again?
2. Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com): Colorado WR Paul Richardson
Here are some highlights of Richardson, courtesy of our Colorado blog, Ralphie Report.
3. Matthew Fairburn (SB Nation): USC WR Marqise Lee
Lee is SB Nation's No. 3 ranked WR and No. 24 ranked player overall.
That's two receivers in three mock drafts. Are you seeing a trend? Receivers will be mocked to the Chiefs often and with good reason. The Chiefs pass the ball a lot so it makes sense that they would invest more in the players who are catching those balls.
Free agency comes before the draft and can (and will) change a lot of this talk. What if the Chiefs go out and sign Jeremy Maclin on the first day of free agency? That wipes away any receiver talk.
The way the secondary was torched late in the season would have some wondering if this pick should be a defensive back. Maybe a safety?
Thoughts on these early mock drafts?