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2022 NFL Mock Draft: Matt Corral becomes the future in Atlanta

By Christopher Thomas

Oct 9, 2021; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Matt Corral (2) during warmups prior to the game against Arkansas Razorbacks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Matt Corral (2) during warmups prior to the game against Arkansas Razorbacks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Florida Gators cornerback Kaiir Elam (5) in coverage against Florida Atlantic Owls wide receiver Je’Quan Burton (82) during a game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville Fla. Sept. 4, 2021.2022 NFL Mock Draft
Florida Gators cornerback Kaiir Elam (5) in coverage against Florida Atlantic Owls wide receiver Je’Quan Burton (82) during a game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville Fla. Sept. 4, 2021.2022 NFL Mock Draft /

16. Kansas City Chiefs: Kaiir Elam, Cornerback, Florida

The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves among the middle of the pack this season due to a couple of reasons. Offensively the Chiefs have been extremely sloppy. Opposing defenses have seemed to figure out how to limit the production of this offense by forcing them to play slow-paced. Defensively the Chiefs have been one of the worst in the league. They are one of the worst teams in the league at defending against the run. Kansas City is even worse at defending against the pass. The Chiefs have been forced to play in shootouts every week and they have struggled to win against teams who look like legitimate contenders.

This offseason the Chiefs need to spend premium assets on defense and have them hit if they want to be competitive next year. Kansas City has ignored improving their pass defense for the last couple of seasons. They are fortunate 2020 fourth-round pick L’Jarius Sneed has become a starting-caliber cornerback this early in his career. Outside of Sneed, their cornerback group is made up of Charvarius Ward, Rashad Fenton, and former first-round picks Mike Hughes and Deandre Baker. That group should not be responsible for defending Super Bowl contenders in AFC playoff games.

Kansas City could benefit from having one bad season because they could reap the benefits of picking earlier in the draft and adding higher-level talent in the draft. One player who could be a major help to this team is Flordia cornerback Kaiir Elam. He is the pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, has been a lockdown corner for Florida’s defense, and has only allowed 8 reception on 20 targets this year.

The Chiefs traded Marcus Peters away and let Steven Nelson, Kendall Fuller, and Bashaud Breeland walk in free agency over the years. They cannot afford to have this weak of a secondary if they want to continue to be a dominant force in the AFC. Drafting Kaiir Elam in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft would give them a number one cornerback that could be trusted covering the talented receivers in this division including Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Henry Ruggs, and Bryan Edwards.

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