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Mel Kiper's 2016 mock draft sends Chiefs a safety

The latest updated 2016 NFL mock draft from ESPN's Mel Kiper has a safety going to the Kansas City Chiefs. That would be Ohio State's Vonn Bell. Kiper writes that Bell is versatile enough that he could play safety or corner.

Todd McShay had this pick a while back and I predicted that Chiefs fans wouldn't like the pick because the Chiefs already had some good safeties. And then they didn't sign Eric Berry to a long-term contract, lost Tyvon Branch to the Cardinals and saw Husain Abdullah retire, which pushed safety closer to the top on the Chiefs list of needs. So, yeah, things have changed.

The Chiefs have signed safeties to one year contracts just about every year John Dorsey has been in town. They've hit on them too: Abdullah, Kurt Coleman, Tyvon Branch. It would be nice to solidify that role, especially since having that fifth (or sixth) defensive back on the field is now the new base defense. Three safeties can all be considered starters these days. On the flip side, if the Chiefs have been getting them so cheap previously, do they need to drop a first round pick on one?

This also fits the John Dorsey model of drafting a position where you have a free agent coming up. That would be Eric Berry, who is on the franchise tag. I'm not predicting that the Chiefs aren't going to sign Berry - I would bet they do, actually - but the Chiefs drafted Dee Ford when they were likely (but not guaranteed) to keep Tamba Hali and Justin Houston.

I'll sign off on this pick now. Given what's happened at safety lately, Bell can fit a need.

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