Chiefs mock draft: taking an offensive lineman early

With the Senior Bowl in a little over a month, we’re starting to get the draft itch. We decided to a special draft edition of the Arrowhead Pride Laboratory to discuss a few recent accepted invites to the Senior Bowl.

We also did a Chiefs mock draft with a little spin. We randomized four positions Brett Veach could target in the draft and selected players in that order. The order was IOL, LB, CB and WR. Here were the results of draft roulette.

26. IOL Nick Harris, Washington

This probably isn’t the route I would hope for, but so goes draft roulette. There are a few centers that will likely hear their names called in the first two rounds, and Harris certainly has a chance to be one of them. Harris is a three-year starter that has the athleticism to succeed in the Chiefs’ zone-blocking scheme. Patrick Mahomes would have a steady presence in the middle of the offensive line for years to come.

58. LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State

It’s not even the turn of the year yet, but the AP draft team already has a massive crush at the linebacker position. Davis-Gaither is an athletic, dynamic linebacker who provides traits the second level of the Chiefs defense desperately needs. He would slide in as a WILL linebacker and give Steve Spagnuolo speed, cover skills and ability in space.

90. CB Dane Jackson, Pittsburgh

It would be much more preferable for a cornerback to be taken much earlier than this. In this scenario, I would hope the Chiefs have invested significantly in free agency to help solidify what could be a very good secondary if they improve at corner. Jackson has desirable length, good feet and speed. He’s competitive and physical in the run and pass game and shows promise to be a quality corner in this league.

122. WR Michael Pittman, USC

This ultimately could be too low for Pittman, but in a deep wide receiver class, someone will be waiting to hear their names called longer than expected. Pittman is a big, 6-foot-4 receiver and that is a body type the Chiefs don’t have on the roster. He could potentially be an X receiver and big target for Mahomes. He has a quality athletic profile for a man his size, is good after the catch and wins at the catch point.

Arrowhead Pride Laboratory

We went into further detail on these players and more on this episode edition of the Arrowhead Pride Laboratory.