New mock draft has a perfect scenario playing out for Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have two selections in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft (KC received the Miami Dolphins' first-round pick in the Tyreek Hill trade). One of the Chiefs' biggest needs in the first round of the draft is wide receiver. Kansas City needs a new No. 1 wide receiver after dealing […]
The Kansas City Chiefs have two selections in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft (KC received the Miami Dolphins' first-round pick in the Tyreek Hill trade).
One of the Chiefs' biggest needs in the first round of the draft is wide receiver. Kansas City needs a new No. 1 wide receiver after dealing Hill to the Dolphins.
But unfortunately for the Chiefs, there may not be a No. 1 caliber wide receiver available at the end of the first round (both of Kansas City's picks are at end of the first round — No. 29 and No. 30 overall).
That's why NFL.com's Lance Zierlein has the Chiefs trading up in the first round. Zierlein's latest mock draft predicts that Kansas City will trade up with the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 23 overall pick. He then has Kansas City drafting Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave.
Olave is a potential star in the NFL. While he doesn't have Tyreek Hill level speed (then again, who does?), he is still plenty fast enough to make a major impact in the NFL (4.39 in the 40-yard dash).
Here's Zierlein's draft profile on Olave:
The quiet storm of the Ohio State wide receiver corps, Olave is smooth, steady and makes things happen. His movements are fluid and easy from snap to the catch and all points between. He's fast but efficient and plays with the bend and foot agility to uncover on all three levels. Olave possesses natural, well-rounded ball skills but needs to add play strength to ward off the physical challenges that are headed his way. His play traits should allow for success beyond the scheme and talent advantages surrounding him at Ohio State. He is an inside/outside hybrid appealing to offenses looking for a field-stretcher with the ability to take on a sizable catch load.
This scenario depends on how the draft plays out. If a few of the top wide receivers go in the top 20, but Olave is still there, then I could definitely see Chiefs general manager Brett Veach trading up.
But if wide receivers start falling in the draft and there are still a few of the top ones left when Arizona's pick comes around, then I think Kansas City will wait and just see who falls.
Either way, the Chiefs and their two selections are going to leave their mark on the first round.
Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
