clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

NFL mock draft 2014: Why the Chiefs chose Odell Beckham Jr.

Explaining my selection of WR Odell Beckham Jr. for the Kansas City Chiefs pick in the 2014 SB Nation bloggers mock draft.

The 2014 SB Nation bloggers mock draft has hit the Kansas City Chiefs pick. I chose Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver out of LSU. Read about the pick here and see the rest of the selections here.

Why did I pick Beckham?

I was targeting a receiver or a safety in this mock draft. Both of the draft's top safeties were gone by the 23rd pick. Alabama's Ha Ha Clinton-Dix went 13th and Louisville's Calvin Pryor went 14th. So that essentially took safety off the board. As for receiver, Clemson's Sammy Watkins and Texas A&M's Mike Evans were off the board, as we expected. Also gone was Oregon State's Brandin Cooks, who went 17th to the Baltimore Ravens.

For receivers, that left me considering Beckham, USC's Marqise Lee and Florida State's Kelvin Benjamin. Among those, Beckham is the best fit for the Chiefs. He can also aid the Chiefs in the return game, where they lost their best kick returner and punt returner.

There was a run on corners with one picked directly ahead of the Chiefs and three more picked in the three picks after the Chiefs. If Beckham was gone, I would have considered a cornerback there. I would have also considered Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin because I think the Chiefs will give a strong look at offensive line given the losses their in free agency.

The simplest way to put this is that Beckham adds speed to an offense that needs speed.

NEW: Join Arrowhead Pride Premier

If you love Arrowhead Pride, you won’t want to miss Pete Sweeney in your inbox each week as he delivers deep analysis and insights on the Chiefs' path to the Super Bowl.