The upcoming NFL Draft is inching closer by the day, and with less than two weeks to go before the first round gets underway, the experts from around the web are busy as ever making their predictions.
Eric Edholm from Yahoo! Sports suspects that the Chiefs will add to their offensive arsenal of playmakers in the first round by selecting wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. from LSU. A touchdown machine for the Tigers, Marshall found the end zone 23 times over the last two seasons.
There's a familial connection, too, that would immediately endear the six-foot-three, 200-pound wide receiver to Chiefs Kingdom. Edholm explained in his analysis:
"This also would have a feel-good element to it, too. Marshall's great uncle, Joe Delaney, was the Chiefs' second-rounder in 1981 and a beloved star in the making prior to his drowning in 1983 while trying to save some children."
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com also predicts the Chiefs will take an offensive player on April 29, but he opted to bolster the interior of Kansas City’s offensive line with Alabama center Landon Dickerson. The six-foot-six, 325-pound Dickerson, who the folks at Pro Football Focus named the top center in the nation last season, projects as either a guard or center at the next level. Here's a portion of what Zierlein had to say about the Alabama product:
"Dickerson is a coach's dream with his infectious attitude, toughness and versatility along the interior."
Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr made a similar pick in his latest mock draft by sticking with the offensive line, but he bounced outside and went with an offensive tackle prospect in Liam Eichenberg from Notre Dame. A three-year starter at left tackle for the Fighting Irish, PFF noted that Eichenberg is well-oiled machine at this point with his technique who looks ready to contribute on Day 1.
Here's a bit of what Orr had to say about Eichenberg:
"The Chiefs need offensive line talent in the pipeline and Eichenberg, who didn't allow a single sack of quarterback Ian Book last year, fits the bill nicely."
Elsewhere, NFL Network's Maurice Jones-Drew thinks the Chiefs will add a pass-rusher in the first round by drafting defensive end Jayson Oweh from Penn State. The six-foot-five, 252-pound Oweh racked up 51 pressures over the last two seasons.
Lastly, Ryan Wilson from CBS Sports went defense as well in his latest mock draft, sending Notre Dame do-it-all linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to the Chiefs at pick No. 31. A hybrid player of sorts, the six-foot-two, 215-pound Owusu-Koramoah displayed tremendous versatility in college. He showed the ability to be a bruising pass-rusher on one play and sticky in coverage against a slot receiver on the next, possessing the skills to do a little bit of everything in the NFL.
There's no clear consensus on who the Chiefs will take on April 29, but we only have to wait a little bit longer to find out.