Kansas City Chiefs: 6 First Round Targets in the 2022 NFL Draft

David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan

Here is an idea: what if you could get a guy that was in top-ten talks with one of the final selections in round one? The only catch is, he’s unlikely to see the field at all in 2022. It is a bit of a risky proposition, but the Kansas City Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes and their championship window will always be open as long as that is the case. We can debate all day whether or not this is a move the Chiefs *should* make, but I do believe that it is one that will be considered for a multitude of reasons.

First, as stated, Ojabo’s potential is limitless. He is still fairly new to the sport and was just beginning to scratch the surface prior to his devastating Achilles tear at Michigan’s pro day. Next, the team has a total of 12 selections in the draft, if anyone can afford to redshirt Ojabo while still having a number of picks to use elsewhere, it is the Chiefs.

Finally, taking him in round one gives the team a fifth-year option for the pass rusher, effectively cancelling out the year off. A fifth-year option is considerably more expensive than the first four years on a rookie deal, but by then they will know whether or not Ojabo is worth it.

Daxton Hill, Defensive Back, Michigan

The final prospect of this exercise is a former teammate of David Ojabo — defensive back Daxton Hill. Hill was a highly sought after recruit coming out of high school, garnering a five-star rating and flipping back and forth between Alabama and Michigan a number of times before ultimately choosing the Wolverines.

The biggest selling point for Hill is the versatility that he brings to the defensive back room. During his collegiate career, Hill spent time at every spot in the secondary. He served as an outside cornerback, slot cornerback, and safety for one of the best defensive units in the country.

In the NFL, he profiles best as a slot defender but will be able to hold his own as a free roaming safety as well. Hill utilizes a high IQ that consistently puts him in a position to make plays each and every snap. He is a plus athlete and is overqualified in terms of traits as a slot defender.

With some of the best wide receivers in the NFL primarily playing out of the slot nowadays, defenders capable of sticking with those pass catchers are becoming more and more valuable. Hill is a poster-child for a new age defender in the secondary, something the Kansas City Chiefs will welcome with open arms considering the bevy of talent in the division.