A lot of the debate NFL teams have when their pick is up in the draft is about need versus value. That is the case with the Kansas City Chiefs. They have an obvious need at cornerback, but the value with the No. 28 pick in the SB Nation NFL writers mock is elsewhere. There are some good pass rushers available, and the seemingly never ending bounty at defensive tackle could be an option. So could offensive line.
2016 NFL mock draft: Kansas City Chiefs roll with Vernon Butler
The massive and disruptive Louisiana Tech defensive tackle is the pick for the Chiefs in the SB Nation NFL writers mock draft.
Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride (who is among those who have been around for all 10 of these SBN mocks) checks in with his pick for the Chiefs:
28. Chiefs: Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
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Thorman: The Chiefs would’ve liked to see one of the top cornerbacks fall to the 28th pick but Eli Apple, Mackensie Alexander and William Jackson III are all off the board. The Chiefs look to a deep part of this draft with defensive lineman Vernon Butler. Defensive linemen are hard to find so you have to invest in the draft to find them. The Chiefs are fine on their defensive line for next season but after that some uncertainty hits with Dontari Poe’s contract coming up after this season and Jaye Howard’s up in two years. The Chiefs can’t pay big money to both so drafting someone makes sense.
Analysis: That run on cornerbacks really dealt a blow to the Chiefs, especially considering a player like Kendall Fuller of Virginia Tech may be too much of an injury risk to take in the first round. Taking Butler as a fallback isn’t a bad option, though. Butler is a really good defensive lineman who can get lost in the shuffle because the Louisiana Tech product didn’t play at a big school. But he’s a player who can work over the nose (and give Poe an occasional break), or work as a rotation player at the least.
Dan’s Top 5 players remaining
- 15. Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
- 20. Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
- 24. Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
- 25. Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
- 26. Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
Chiefs picks
- 1-28: Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
- 2-59: (coming April 21)
Our next pick comes up at noon ET and Revenge of the Birds making the pick for the Arizona Cardinals. Warning: Some may view the choice as controversial.
Complete draft results:
1. Tennessee Titans - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss (Link)
2. Cleveland Browns - Jared Goff, QB, Cal (Link)
3. San Diego Chargers - Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State (Link)
4. Dallas Cowboys - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (Link)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Myles Jack, LB, UCLA (Link)
6. Baltimore Ravens - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State (Link)
7. San Francisco 49ers - DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon (Link)
8. Philadelphia Eagles - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (Link)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky (Link)
10. New York Giants - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame (Link)
11. Chicago Bears - Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida (Link)
12. New Orleans Saints - A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (Link)
13. Miami Dolphins - Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State (Link)
14. Oakland Raiders - Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State (Link)
15. Los Angeles Rams - Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson (Link)
16. Detroit Lions - Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State (Link)
17. Atlanta Falcons - Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson (Link)
18. Indianapolis Colts - Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama (Link)
19. Buffalo Bills - Reggie Ragland, MLB, Alabama (Link)
20. New York Jets - Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State (Link)
21. Washington - Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor (Link)
22. Houston Texans - Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (Link)
23. Minnesota Vikings - Josh Doctson, WR, TCU (Link)
24. Cincinnati Bengals - Laquon Treadell, WR, Ole Miss (Link)
25. Pittsburgh Steelers - William Jackson, CB, Houston (Link)
26. Seattle Seahawks - Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida (Link)
27. Green Bay Packers - Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (Link)
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