The 2016 NFL Draft is less than a month away, and as we get closer to the few days of the year that ultimately shape the future of NFL organizations, the draft experts from around the internet are starting to come to a consensus on which position the Kansas City Chiefs may attack in the first round.
After veteran cornerback Sean Smith signed with the Oakland Raiders in free agency, many outside of the organization expect the Chiefs to try and fill that open vacancy through another first-round pick.
They hit gold last year doing that with Marcus Peters, who was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowler after a breakout season that saw him tie for the NFL lead with 8 interceptions and break a franchise record with 26 passes defensed.
Of the 22 latest mock drafts from different draft experts, 13 of them have the Chiefs selecting a cornerback, who would ideally play across from Peters.
The experts predict who the Chiefs will take with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Houston's William Jackson III led with five selections, Clemson's Mackensie Alexander had four, Ohio State's Eli Apple had three selections and Miami's Artie Burns had one.
Here's what CBS draft expert Dane Brugler had to say in his draft guide (which is fantastic and you can get right here) about each of these guys:
Jackson III:"Highly productive with 48 career passes defended, including a FBS-best 28 passes defended in 2015…rough up-bringing, but has stayed focused at Houston, making appropriate changes to improve his preparation and study habits – became much more studious in the film room as a senior and it showed, working hard to refine his craft…low-key, humble personality."
Alexander: "Already prepares like a pro…innately motivated and driven by his family – his fire for competition can't be extinguished…battle tested over 27 starts, usually shadowing the opponent's top receiving threat, lining up inside and outside – quarterbacks completed only 24.5 percent of passes in 2015 when targeting his receiver."
Apple:"Tough-minded with a short memory – doesn't let negative plays linger…survivor mentality and well-traveled – born in Philadelphia, lived in Ghana (birthplace of his mother) for two years and then to Brooklyn…battle-tested with experience in man and zone coverage – average production with 22 passes defended and four interceptions in 27 career starts."
Burns:"Strong hands to jam and reroute in press…stings in run support, breaking down in space to wrap and wrestle…bat out of hell as a blitzer, closing with an extra gear…ball skills to finish interceptions – led the ACC in interceptions in 2015…experienced on special teams coverages…record-setting track athlete in high school, breaking records in the 110-hurdles (13.35) and 300-hurdles (36.14)…humble worker and focuses on the details…mentally tough and works through adversity – mother (Dana Smith) passed away of a heart attack midseason (Oct. 2015); his father (Artie Sr.) is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for cocaine trafficking."
Here's the latest roundup of the different mock draft selections from each of the 22 experts:
Mock Draft Roundup 6.0 - Who should the Chiefs pick in the first round at No. 28? | |||||
Analyst |
Company |
Player |
POS |
School |
Video Clips |
Matt Miller |
Mackensie Alexander |
CB |
Clemson |
Watch Video of Alexander | |
Luke Easterling |
|
Mackensie Alexander |
CB |
Clemson | |
Rob Rang |
William Jackson III |
CB |
Houston |
| |
Dane Brugler |
Eli Apple |
CB |
Ohio State | ||
Will Brinson |
Mackensie Alexander |
CB |
Clemson | ||
Jared Dubin |
Eli Apple |
CB |
Ohio State | ||
Charles Davis |
|
William Jackson III |
CB |
Houston | |
Daniel Jeremiah |
Artie Burns |
CB |
Miami |
| |
Bucky Brooks |
William Jackson III |
CB |
Houston | ||
Todd McShay |
William Jackson III |
CB |
Houston | ||
Adam Stites |
Mackensie Alexander |
CB |
Clemson | ||
Dan Kadar |
|
Eli Apple |
CB |
Ohio State | |
Don Banks |
William Jackson III |
CB |
Houston |
| |
Maurice Jones-Drew |
Kenny Clark |
DL |
UCLA | ||
Josh Norris |
A'Shawn Robinson |
DL |
Alabama | ||
Mel Kiper |
Jarran Reed |
DL |
Alabama | ||
Chris Collinsworth |
|
Jarran Reed |
DL |
Alabama | |
Chad Reuter |
Josh Garnett |
OG |
Stanford |
| |
Pete Prisco |
Leonard Floyd |
OLB |
Georgia | ||
Lance Zierlein |
Noah Spence |
OLB |
E. Kentucky | ||
Peter Schrager |
Kamalei Correa |
OLB |
Boise State | ||
Walter Cherepinsky |
|
Paxton Lynch |
QB |
Memphis |