Unlike the past three seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs will not be spending the next two weeks preparing for a Super Bowl appearance. Fans are already firmly focused on what prospects might be available to the Chiefs with the ninth overall selection in April’s NFL Draft.
One of the top minds in the business, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, released his first mock draft on Monday morning. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza remains universally matched with the Las Vegas Raiders with the draft’s initial
pick.
Right tackle is sometimes seen as a dark horse position for the Chiefs to upgrade, but that was not possible in Jeremiah’s prediction. Utah’s Spencer Fano and Miami’s Francis Mauigoa both flew off in the top five selections. Pass rushers Arvell Reese of Ohio State and David Bailey of Texas Tech also were taken ahead of the Chiefs’ position.
LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane and Ohio State off-ball linebacker Sonny Styles went with the fifth and seventh respective selections. Jeremiah appears higher than the consensus on the stock for the two defenders. Immediately before the Chiefs’ turn, he projected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to the New Orleans Saints.
10. Kansas City Chiefs
Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
Bain is my favorite fit for the Chiefs. Andy Reid has always had an appreciation for players with a junkyard dog mentality like Bain possesses, having coached Trent Cole and Brandon Graham in Philadelphia.
Jeremiah goes with a player high on the wish list of many Kansas City fans after watching the team’s pass rush struggle much of the season. Bain was a star of Miami’s run to college football’s championship game earlier this month. He finished this year’s College Football Playoff with five total sacks.
While Bain frequently goes in the top five of published mock drafts, he will battle questions the entire draft season about his arm length. His measurements will be among the most watched topics at this year’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Speaking to Arrowhead Pride contributing editor Ron Kopp Jr. last week, Dane Brugler of The Athletic predicted that Bain is far from a lock for the top eight selections.
In this scenario, the Chiefs passed on Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who went to picks later.
Further breaking from other national media, Jeremiah seemed lower than colleagues on this year’s wide receiver prospects. He sees USC’s Makai Lemon as the draft’s top wide out and selected with the 13th pick. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson respectively went at the 16th and 19th selections.
